PO‘IPU — Firefighters are a vital cog in the wheel of public safety, and fire chiefs and their administrative staff are the drivers of that wheel. Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. acknowledged the key role firefighters and fire departments play
PO‘IPU — Firefighters are a vital cog in the wheel of public safety, and fire chiefs and their administrative staff are the drivers of that wheel.
Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. acknowledged the key role firefighters and fire departments play in the community during the opening of the 32nd Hawai‘i Fire Chiefs Association conference, Friday, at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa.
Despite the passage of a weather front that dampened the planned golf tournament, the two-day conference opened with more than 180 registered attendees that encompassed fire chiefs from around the state of Hawai‘i, the Pacific Basin, the Mainland and Canada.
Kaua‘i Assistant Chief John Blaylock said in addition to the conference attendees, with guests and other personnel, the conference will service more than 300 people at some of its events, including a lu‘au, Friday night.
Kaua‘i Chief Robert Westerman said in addition to the people attending the conference, there were 70 vendors of equipment relating to the field of fire fighting and rescue showing the latest equipment available to fire departments.
“We had some people arriving early, and some will stay beyond the conference, so we’re looking at more than 900 hotel days,” Westerman said.
Carvalho said the importance of the conference is not only in hearing what keynote speakers had to say, but the networking between the different departments and learning how to do things better and safer for the future.
In his opening remarks, Carvalho noted the accomplishments of Kaua‘i’s fire department, including the opening of the new LEED-certified Kaiakea Fire Station, the acquisition of a $1.5 million grant to help expand the force to man the new station, and the recent awarding of the International Ben Franklin award by Kaua‘i fire fighters for their involvement in the successful rescue in an ultra-light incident in Hanapepe.
He commended the Kaua‘i Fire Department for a great effort in coordinating the two-day conference, noting that fire fighters are not only heroes who put their life on the line to save other lives, they are role models in the community.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
