Four Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) companies and about 20 firefighters converged on Sakamaki Hall at the University of Hawaii at Manoa on the morning of Sunday, February 21. The firefighters rushed up the stairs of the four-story structure, deployed their hoses and released a torrent of water. They weren’t responding to an actual fire but were instead training for the real thing. A partnership between HFD and the UH Manoa Office of Operations and Facilities Fire Safety Program made it all possible.
“This is about giving back to the community and it is a positive for everyone involved,” said Blake Araki, director of campus operations and facilities. “It gives the fire companies in our community an opportunity to get familiar with our campus and test our facilities while they sharpen their life-saving skills.” The fire department has held five high-rise training exercises on campus since April 2020.