LIHUE — The Kauai Fire Department (KFD) takes wildfire preparation very seriously. This month, firefighters aim to inform the community about tips for being fully prepared for the upcoming summer season.
May is Wildfire Awareness Month, and KFD offers valuable tips for protecting your neighborhood and property from fire destruction.
The department has collaborated with the Kauai Emergency Management Agency, KEMA, the Kauai Police Department, KPD, and the Mayor’s PIO team to enhance the message and empower the public through improved training and operation coordination, such as alert messaging and additional response initiatives reflecting the county’s collaboration and commitment to public safety and emergency preparedness.
“Wildfires have the potential to cause significant destruction to our homes, communities, and public spaces,” said KFD Chief Michael Gibson.
“Our residents and businesses must take preventative measures to mitigate wildfires, especially when we head into the drier summer season. We thank the Hawai‘i Wildland Management Organization and all our partners for their collaboration to keep our community safe from wildfires.”
KFD offers the following tips and encourages everyone to remember them as the temperature rises.
• Remove dead vegetation and other flammable materials, especially around your home and within 5 feet of your property.
When unmanaged, Invasive grasses such as guinea grass and overgrown koa haole create a significant fire hazard. Weed them often and consider replanting with low-lying, drought–tolerant, native ground cover.
• Remove flammable materials from decks, porches, lanais, and underneath the house. Common flammables include scrap wood, firewood, and combustible furniture.
• Keep your lawn hydrated and shorter than 4 inches tall around the home. Do not mow in the day’s heat or when the wind blows; never mow in dry vegetation.
• Have a plan and an escape route to a clear area safe from rapid-fire spread.
Please report any possible fires — including signs of smoke or flames —by calling the Kauai Police Department Dispatch at 808-241-1711 or 911 if it is an emergency.
Furthermore, the following list of important numbers and agencies is available for resources on emergency preparedness:
• The Kauai Emergency Management Agency – kauai.gov/kema
• The National Weather Service – weather.gov/hfo, or automated weather line at 808-245-6001.
• And the Road and closure conditions at 808-241-1725.
For more tips to prevent wildfires, visit Kauai.gov/fire and download the Hawai‘i Wildland Management Organization Fire Action Guide by clicking “Wildland Fire Action Guide & Safety Tips.”
KFD will also host a wildfire preparedness collaboration meeting with landowners and land stewards in May. Interested landowners can contact KFD Fire Prevention Capt. Kaeo Kinoshita at jkinoshita@kauai.gov for further information.
Individuals interested in signing up for the Wireless Emergency Notification System (WENS), the county’s emergency notification service, can visit kauai.gov/KEMA and click “WENS.” Residents can also call the Kauai Emergency Management Agency at 808-241-1800.
Source: The Garden Island
Be First to Comment