Maui Wildland Firefighting Refresher Training in April

The Maui County Department of Fire and Public Safety conducts wildland firefighting refresher training in the Launiupoko and Central Maui areas on April 17 to 19 and 22 to 24.

This training involves live fire, so residents may see or smell smoke and may see flames in the training areas.

The purpose of these exercises is two-fold: 1) provide valuable “hands-on” refresher training for firefighting personnel prior to the upcoming brush fire season; and 2) reduce the brush fire hazard in the neighboring communities by burning away fuel, thereby creating a “safety buffer” in the event of a brush fire in the upcoming months.

Specific locations and dates are as follows:

Central Maui:
Where: a roughly 20-acre plot about three miles east of the sugar mill
Dates: April 19, 23 and 24
Times: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Launiupoko:
Where: a roughly 20-acre plot north of Haniu St and Punakea Lp along the “Lahaina Pump Ditch Two”
Dates: April 17, 18 and 22
Times: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“The fire department has carefully planned these exercises and will take all necessary precautions to ensure that these training fires do not spread beyond their intended boundaries and that their impact on neighboring communities is minimized,” fire officials said in a department press release.

Department officials advise any nearby residents who are especially sensitive to smoke, that they may benefit from keeping their windows closed, using air-conditioning, and electing to stay inside during the training.