Hawaiʻi Fire Department Welcomes Arrival of New Brush Trucks
Hawaiʻi Fire Department Welcomes Arrival of New Brush Trucks
The Hawaiʻi Fire Department welcomed the arrival of three new brush trucks with a blessing held Monday in Hilo. The blessing was conducted by Fire Chaplain Renee Godoy.
The Ford F-450 brush trucks, funded by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, will be assigned to Volunteer Fire Stations in Hawaiian Acres, Nāʻālehu, and Discovery Harbour.
The brush trucks replace aging vehicles that have been in service for up to 45 years and are critical for responding to brush, residential, and vehicle fires in remote and rural areas of Upper Puna and Kaʻū.
“These new brush trucks are made possible through thoughtful investment and partnerships across our County,” said Mayor Kimo Alameda. “By leveraging these funds, we’re able to strengthen community safety and ensure that our volunteer firefighters have the resources they need to protect our island.”
In total, the three brush trucks cost approximately $625,693.
“These vehicles will allow our volunteer firefighters to meet national safety standards, respond faster, and operate more safely in rugged and remote terrain,” said Fire Chief Kazuo Todd. “Mahalo to the CDBG Program for supporting this essential investment in emergency response.”
The Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) administers the County’s CDBG Program and worked closely with the Fire Department to make this purchase possible.
The CDBG Program is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and supports a wide range of community development activities, with a focus on improving housing, public facilities and public services for low- and moderate-income persons.
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