Maui County Department of Fire and Public Safety

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Maui County Department of Fire and Public Safety

• Wildland Firefighting
• Program

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Past The Need

• Total land area of 1,159 sq. miles
• Diverse General Climate Zones
• Leeward Lowlands
• Interior Lowlands
• Leeward Side High-Altitude Mountain Slopes with
  High Rainfall
• Lower Mountain Slopes on Leeward Side
• High Mountains
• Windward Lowlands

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Past The Need

• Rapid Growth and Development
• Population at 141,320 rising approximately 1.7
  annually
• Building construction in previously undeveloped
  areas
• 2.3 million visitors per year peaking in summer
  months

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Past The Need

• Limited Resources -14 Engine Companies
• 1 Lanai
• 3 Molokai
• 10 Maui island
• 1 H 500 D helicopter (2-3 available on call)
• 4 Tenders (2 on Maui island)
• Approximately 300 Line Personnel
• Traditional Department Designed/Trained/Equipped
  for Structural Firefighting

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Past The Need

• Limited Resources for Aid
• State Department of Land and Natural Resources
  Division of Forestry and Wildlife
• Haleakala National Park
• Private Contractors
• State and County Public Works

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Past The Need

• Fires

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Past The Solution

• Developed Training and Obtained Equipment to
  Effectively and Safely Fight Wildland Fires
• Wildland Team Program initiated in 2003 with
  approximately 15 members attending Firefighter
  Type 2 level training.
• Obtained PPE and hand tools for wildland
  environment.
• Loan of a Model 42 light-engine fire truck from
  the U.S. Forest Service.
• Cross training engine crews in wildland
  firefighting techniques and safety.

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Present ProgressTraining

• Broad Department Wide Operational Training
• Currently 60 firefighters trained to FF Type 2
  level.
• Awareness level training to all department
  personnel
• Limited Mid-level Operational Training
• Initial training of Supervisors in Firing and
  Dozer operations.
• Scheduled and Budgeted Training of Further
  Operation Specific Training.

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Present ProgressEquipment (Team)

• Equipment Cache for the Rapid Deployment of
  Called Out Personnel.
• FirePacks/With Shelters
• Hand Tools
• Hand Pumps
• Footwear
• Helmets
• Water Reservoirs
• Foam
• Weather Kits and Electronic Meters

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Present ProgressEquipment (Department)

• All Apparatus Equipped with Fire Shelters and
  Webbing Harnesses for Crews.
• All Apparatus Equipped with Wildland Firefighting
  Tools.
• All Personnel Equipped with Nomex Brush Over Gear
  (Pants and Jacket) and Wildland Gloves
• All Nomex Duty Uniforms.
• Lightweight Supply Hose with Quick Deployment
  Packs.
• Wildland Appliances, Fittings and Nozzles.

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Present Work in ProgressAdministrative

• Development of Standard Operational Guidelines
  and Call Out Procedures for Department Wildland
  Team
• Currently under review by Department and County
  administration.
• Development of Strong Cooperative Relationships
  with Federal, State and Private Entities.
• Joint training/operations
• Deployment of Wildland Teams Currently Standard
  Practice for any Major Wildland Fires.

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Future Making It BetterTraining

• In House Training All Current Firefighters to FF
  Type 2 Equivalency
• In House Training All New Fire Recruits to FF
  Type 2 Equivalency
• Advanced Operational Training for All Wildland
  Team Members.
• Training of All Private Contractors to FF Type 2
  Equivalency
• Annual Refresher Training For All the Above.
• Obtain a Regular Field Training Area.

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The Future Making It BetterEquipment

• Expanding Equipment Cache and Storage to
  Accommodate Growing Training and Response Needs.
• Acquire Additional Apparatus, Pumps and Tools for
  Response Equivalent to Training.
• Wildland Specific PPE for All Department
  Personnel and Private Contractors.
• Improved Communications With VHF Capable Team
  Specific Radios.

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The Future Making It BetterAdministrative

• Acceptance and Maintenance of Wildland Standard
  Operating Guidelines.
• Development of Operational Procedures Manual.
• Explore the Development of Permanent
  Administrative/Operational Wildland Leadership
  Positions.

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Challenges

• Motivating Full Time Employees to Voluntarily
  Commit to Program Participation.
• Development and Maintenance of Academic and Field
  Training Program.
• Integration of Wildland Team Within Larger
  Department With Many Other Programs and Needs.

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THANK YOU