Department of Transportation

HONOLULU — Sixteen new fire-fighters will be assigned to Aircraft Rescue & Fire-Fighting stations at Honolulu International, Kalaeloa, Lihue, Hilo International and Kona International Airports after graduating today from the Federal Fire Department Joint Fire-Fighter Recruit Academy. 

The graduating class of 39 recruits in the joint Federal-State-Pacific Missile Range Facility training program completed 22 weeks of extensive instruction.  Training components included live fire-fighting, engine and vehicle operations, emergency medical training, hazardous materials response, vehicle extrication and rescue operations in all likely scenarios that may occur across the islands.  These included training in ocean, wildland and confined-space environments, along with helicopter and rope rescues. 

“The sixteen new recruits will help to augment fire-fighting and rescue operations at five airports statewide and help to ensure the safety of the traveling public in the event of emergencies,” said Glenn Okimoto, state Department of Transportation Director.  “We want to thank the Federal Fire Department and the Pacific Missile Range Facility for their facilitation and immense cooperation in this joint training.”

Nineteen of the graduates are under the Federal Fire Department (FFD), Commander Navy Region Hawaii, and will be assigned to Federal Fire Stations at 14 military bases on Oahu and four graduates, also under the FFD, will be assigned to the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kekaha on Kauai.