MFD announces public outreach event held in conjunction withwildfire training

The Maui Fire Department in collaboration with the Wildfire Conservancy will be conducting the IAFF “Responding to the Interface” wildland training again this year.

The course focuses on honing the skills of firefighting personnel as they fight fires in the “wildland urban interface” (WUI), the area where wildland fires begin to impact built up areas and structures. The training will take place from Oct. 6-9, 2026.

As a part of this training, there is an opportunity for the public to observe the operational readiness exercise on Oct. 7. There will be a community outreach event at the park adjacent to the old Pāʻia Gym (640 Baldwin Ave., Pāʻia). The community outreach session will take place from 1 to 2:30 p.m., with the opportunity to observe the operational readiness exercise immediately after.

Full details of the exercise will be distributed during the outreach event.

The organizations participating in the community event include: Maui Fire Department, Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO), Wildfire Conservancy, and the County of Maui’s Department of Environmental Management (DEM).

To reserve your spot to observe the training exercise on Oct. 7, or for additional information please email: morgangray@wildfireconservancy.org

Last year the Responding to the Interface training program was delivered twice, with the operational readiness exercises conducted in Kula and Wailea.