TGI Staff Writer The Kaua’i County Fire Department has purchased two virtually go-anywhere vehicles — a second Humvee and a new all-terrain vehicle — to improve firefighting capabilities and response time to emergencies on the island’s west side. The department
TGI Staff Writer
The Kaua’i County Fire Department has purchased two virtually go-anywhere vehicles — a second Humvee and a new all-terrain vehicle — to improve firefighting capabilities and response time to emergencies on the island’s west side.
The department recently received the $130,000 Humvee and assigned it to the Waimea fire station.
The vehicle can pump water while in motion, allowing firefighters to get to fires in areas that can’t be accessed by larger fire engines, according to Capt. Russell Char.
“This will be our workhorse,” Char said. “It will go out on every call.”
The vehicle is intended to enhance emergency response and fire protection for the west Kaua’i communities of Pakala and Kekaha. It was purchased with federal Community Development Block Grant funds secured by the county.
A second Humvee is in use at the Hanalei fire station.
The Waimea station also will house a new all-terrain vehicle (ATV) for use by county lifeguards at Kekaha Beach.
The county purchased the ATV at a cost of $10,000, according to fire chief David Sproat, whose department oversees the operations of the Water Safety Department.
The fire department has budgeted funds for a second all-terrain vehicle, which when purchased will most likely be used at Kealia Beach, Sproat said.
“The ATV allows our lifeguards to cover a very large area, and it greatly enhances our ability to respond quickly,” Sproat said.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and lchang@pulitzer.net
