09-05-2025
Maui Fire Department blesses newest wildland firefighting tool
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Maui Fire Department's newest wildland firefighting tool was blessed on Thursday, May 8.
MFD personnel, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen, Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Fund representatives and others gathered on Community Wildfire Preparedness Day to celebrate the donation of the County's first wildland firefighting apparatus.
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The Hawaii Community Foundation's 'Maui Strong Fund' and contributions from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez support the fund.
According to MFD, the apparatus is the first of seven and will help strengthen the department's ability to protect Maui communities from future fires.
MFD Fire Chief Bradford Ventura emphasized that Hawaii no longer has a wildfire season like we used to. Instead, the state prepares for wildfires year-round.
'Our firefighters are putting themselves in harm's way every month to get in front of these fires, and of course, we know during the dry seasons, things are gonna be enhanced and they're preparing themselves,' Chief Ventura added.
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During the ceremony, several speakers emphasized the need for the Maui community to come together to prepare, prevent and respond to wildfires in Hawaii.
'It does take all of us collectively to work together, to make a difference. We are very fortunate in Hawaii, we still have community, we still have the aloha spirit. We do care about everybody else. That's not true in a lot of places elsewhere,' said Laura Mallery-Sayre, Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Fund.
Chief Ventura added that reaching out with philanthropy, working with partners and coordinating helps the department tie up loose ends.
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'It would've been plenty to say thank you, it would've been plenty to say we appreciate the work of our folks, but to actually translate that into something that's behind me is truly incredible,' said Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen.
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