On the afternoon of July 31, four long, strong notes of the Pu could be heard coming from behind the North Kohala Fire Station in Kapa’au. The occasion was the blessing of the new 4x4 Big Dog tanker fire truck by Kahu Danny and Anna Akaka. The truck is the third to be gifted to the HFD by an anonymous donor through the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation.
On the afternoon of July 31, four long, strong notes of the Pu could be heard coming from behind the North Kohala Fire Station in Kapa’au. The occasion was the blessing of the new 4×4 Big Dog tanker fire truck by Kahu Danny and Anna Akaka. The truck is the third to be gifted to the HFD by an anonymous donor through the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation.
On hand for the ceremony were Mayor Mitch Roth and director of research and development Doug Adams. Fire Chief Kazuo Todd also made a brief appearance before returning to the Mana Road brushfire. The off-road truck carries 1,200 gallons of water and has a number of methods of dispensing water and foam. Two other trucks like it were instrumental in putting out the large Paauilo wildfire last month as well as the Kawaihae fire, saving multiple buildings and possible lives. Chief Todd emphasized that the outcome of these fires would have been much different had it not been for the capabilities of the new tanker trucks.
Mayor Roth spoke to the incredible generosity of the donor couple and their commitment to, and caring for, the Big Island community. Chief Todd mentioned that we are in an abnormally dry year. This follows three years of increased rainfall that has increased the fire fuel load significantly. “This truck will be an invaluable addition to our department, and our ability to protect lives and property,” he said.
The truck was being held in reserve at the North Kohala station in case another fire broke out somewhere else. However, shortly after the blessing, Captain Troy Gibson received a radio call from incident commander Battalion Chief Bill Bergin at the Mana Road fire to, “Bring the Big Dog truck and everything you’ve got.” The fire had increased from 3,000 acres to 8,000 acres and was threatening the Pu’u Kapu Homesteads and Waikii Ranch. The wind had picked up and the fire was burning out of control. The fire ended up being the largest ever on the Big Island scorching 40,000 acres.
The Daniel R. Sayre Foundation was founded 24 years ago by Dr. Frank Sayre and Laura Mallery-Sayre. The Foundation’s primary missions is to help to save lives on the Big Island through the purchase of equipment and training that the Hawaii County budget can’t provide. The Foundation has raised more than $10 million for the support of the HFD and COVID-19 testing on the Big Island. Tax-deductible donations to help the Hawaii Fire Department can be made by going to www.DanielSayreFoundation.org.or by sending a financial donation to the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation P.O. Box 1285 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96745.
