HNN Investigates reveals which Oahu communities lack fire hydrants and the practices in place for their protection

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - According to the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, several communities across Oahu either lack or are without fire hydrants. Meanwhile, the Honolulu Fire Department says there are many practices already in place for their protection.

When it comes to determining the appropriate fire hydrant spacing, BWS says it’s all about zoning.

According to BWS standards, there should be a hydrant every 250 feet in areas zoned multi-family residential, commercial or industrial. In single-family residential areas, there should be one hydrant every 350 feet. While land that’s zoned as agriculture should have a hydrant every 700 feet.

But the utility confirms there are some older neighborhoods in the Metro-Honolulu area that don’t meet those standards — places like Kaimuki, Paoa, Palolo and Manoa.

BWS spokesperson Kathleen Pahinui told HNN Investigates, in general, fire hydrant spacing is satisfactory within communities it serves.

When asked to define “satisfactory,” Pahinui responded, “It means that HFD and we agree the community is well protected.”

MORE: HNN Investigates

Meanwhile, in undeveloped areas between communities where the Board of Water Supply doesn’t serve, Pahinui says hydrants are limited. Examples include places along the Kaiwi Coast, between Wahiawa/Whitmore and Waialua and Kunia Road, north of Royal Kunia.

HNN asked the Honolulu Fire Department about the impacts of not having hydrants in those areas.

The department said of the nearly 500 brush fires it responded to last year, only a handful — 7% — sparked in those specific places.

HFD Battalion Chief Ricardo Yost says the department uses a computer program to quickly identify and locate fire hydrants during an emergency.

“Each truck has a computer that has that program running so we can easily distinguish where the hydrants are,” he said.

HFD said it’s “pretty common” for its crews to fight fires in places where hydrants aren’t available.

When that happens Yost said, “We utilize our tankers. Tankers have 1800 gallons of water. Our engines, majority of them have 750 gallons of water.”

If there’s a need, the department will deploy its helicopters. Firefighters are also trained to conduct relay operations.

“You got your initial supply pumper at the hydrant, and we run our lines. You know we can run them for a quarter of a mile,” said Yost.

The Board of Water Supply told HNN Investigates it’s working to adjust the spacing of hydrants in communities where they’re too far apart. Saying the issue is most often addressed when a watermain needs to be replaced.

“We’ve had projects recently in Manoa. We’ve got a couple projects in the Diamond Head, Kaimuki areas,” said Pahinui.

Meanwhile, there are things the public can do to make firefighters jobs easier. HWMO created this Ready, Set, Go Action Guide.

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