First responders will be better suited to combat fires, typhoons, looming terror threats and other potential disasters, as a new arrival of emergency equipment has arrived on-island. With the combined intent of beefing up port security and keeping up-to-date with
First responders will be better suited to combat fires, typhoons, looming terror threats and other potential disasters, as a new arrival of emergency equipment has arrived on-island.
With the combined intent of beefing up port security and keeping up-to-date with Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive-response watercraft, a slew of boats, fire trucks and engines funded by grants arrived last week.
In the wake of more than a dozen fires in the past month, a Volunteer Firefighters grant from the state funded two drop-in brush fire units, a water tank and pump.
As part of a Community Development Grant Block Program, two brush rescue trucks were purchased for $48,480 each.
For the Kapa‘a and Waimea fire stations, where 54.5 percent and 56.4 percent of the respective populations are low- to moderate-income families, Hummers will be replaced with first-line units, according to county spokeswoman Mary Daubert.
The first-line units have the ability to provide medical, rescue and fire suppression services in on-site.
With the county’s steady flow of military vessels, cruise ships, commercial and tour boats and freight and fuel barges — and in sync with the arrival of the controversial Hawaii Superferry — the Kaua‘i Fire Department has made a goal of expanding port and maritime capabilities, Daubert added.
A Homeland Security grant enabled the department to purchase the CBRNE watercraft, which is designed to enhance the fire department’s capability monitoring and responding to port facilities in Nawiliwili and Port Allen, as well as surrounding waterways.
Prior to receipt of the CBRNE watercraft, KFD’s port and coastal response capabilities had been limited to small jet boats and inflatable Zodiac-type watercraft, Daubert said.
