Firefighters and Residents: A Partnership of Precaution

We can complement the work of HFD by how we vote and participate in community growth issues

by HILLARY CRAMER
Sun Correspondent
Archived December 2007 article

While flames rocketed across 400,000 acres of Southern California just a month ago, nearly 1 million people were temporarily displaced, highways were scarily jammed and markets rapidly sold out of food and water. Seven thousand firefighters from around the country showed up, took charge and saved lives and property. Longtime Malibu resident Rebecca Felder, daughter of celebrity musician and former Eagles guitarist Don Felder, recalls several fires in Malibu that her family has survived due to tremendous efforts of local firefighters. "In the big ['93] fire, my dad opened our guesthouse and there were five fire trucks in the driveway and about twenty firemen that slept there for a week. They saved our house," said Felder. Another key factor to her family weathering blazes that approached their home are the local fire codes and her family's diligence in heeding them - not letting dry brush exceed certain heights and landscaping with less flammable plants. While Southern California has its own demonic-like combo of weather conditions, population growth and development in fire zones, East Oahu, too, has risky factors, making parts vulnerable to fires, floods and tsunamis. While we do not need to sound the alarm, we can learn from the recent events in California, familiarize ourselves with the local Honolulu Fire Department and take precautionary actions.

Honolulu Firemen and The Job

These folks are the only ones who can handsomely sport yellow overalls. They show up at traffic accidents, fires and domestic emergency situations and respond to marine emergencies in boats and by helicopter. According to Captain Terry Seelig, approximately 5,000 HFD applicants take the written test whenever it is offered. Of those who pass the aptitude test, physical test and interview, as many as 200 might be hired. The average day at work begins with a company lineup where information is exchanged on the prior day's happenings and the plan for the day is relayed. Activities include station and equipment maintenance, training classes, equipment drills, fire inspections in the community, station visitations, review of emergency responses carried out and special projects. HFD shifts are 24 hours, so daily activities also include cooking meals, physical fitness, and down time when firefighters talk to their families on the phone, watch television and read.

A powerful family bond is developed within fire companies. In July, 38-year-old Honolulu firefighter and Hawaii Kai resident Jim Winand passed away of cancer. HFD was deeply pained by the loss and has stepped in for his wife and children. Winand's widow Remle Winand shares about the HFD, "...after losing him [Jim], I really have come to know that the fire department truly is our second family. I just know that if I ever need anything, any one of those guys would be there for us in a heartbeat. His crew and the rest of the department really take it seriously to look after each others' wives and children." HFD led a "Last Alarm" tribute for Winand with a formal company salute and spectacular fireboat procession. Since his passing, firefighters have visited the family and attended Winand's five-year-old daughter's soccer games.

East Oahu Risk Factors and Precautions

According to HFD Captain Terry Seelig, parts of East Oahu are at moderate to high risk for wild fires. Seelig explains that East Oahu has several areas where there are wild lands with dry brush, bordered by homes, similar to California. The wild land areas on Oahu however are not as large, dry, and numerous as they are in California. Parts of East Oahu are as densely populated though, which places them at moderate to high risk for wild fires. According to HFD and L.A. County Fire Department, important precautions we can take are installing working smoke alarms in residences, having a fire extinguisher on hand, not piggybacking extension cords or using cords in poor condition, never leaving cooking food or candles unattended, forming an evacuation plan, and preparing an emergency kit with food, water, batteries, a first aid kid, toilet paper and flashlights.

On a broader scale, we can take precautions and complement the work of HFD by how we vote and participate in community growth issues. The risks of East Oahu's fire and flood zones are critical to consider in the future growth proposals in East Oahu communities. California has responded to huge population influxes by granting building permits for new housing in severe fire zones. This proved tragic in last month's fires.