MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- KANEOHE - The Honolulu Fire Department received an emergency call for a wild, land fire on the H-3 highway, about a quarter-mile outside the main gate of MCB Hawaii at 10:22 p.m. May 10. Due to the location and size of the blaze, MCB Hawaii was asked to lend a helping hand. Firefighters with Marine Corps Air Facility's Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, as well as members of the MCB Hawaii Federal Fire Department, answered the call.
The Marines, city and federal firefighters devised a plan of attack and set forth to conquer the blaze.
The units set a perimeter and battled the fires and heat well into the early morning hours. Around 3 a.m., the blaze seemed to be extinguished, and the crews thought the inferno had been stamped out. To their surprise, the flames rekindled and the blaze started again.
Around 9:30 a.m., May 11, the call went out again, and crews returned - determined not to let this brush fire get the best of them.
With steadfast devotion to duty, ARFF gathered its aircraft fire truck, its 5,000-gallon tanker and manned hoses, suited up, then reset a perimeter along the H-3 to prevent the blaze from crossing the freeway, as city and federal firefighters set other perimeters.
Armed with a 150-gallon bucket, the city helicopter and firefighters battled the blaze into the afternoon. Two CH-53D "Sea Stallion" helicopters from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 joined the battle, both carrying 500-gallon buckets. Eventually, HMH-362 helped dump thousands of gallons of water onto the brush.
With a full perimeter and aerial assault, the blaze stood no chance against the combined efforts of all the firefighters.
"Our Marines did a great job with this wild, land fire," said Gunnery Sgt. Benjamin Fogarty, ARFF Crash chief. "We train primarily for aircraft emergencies and to assist the Federal Fire Department aboard MCB Hawaii with any structural assistance they may need. This was an opportunity to show the diversity of our Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Department.
"All of the fire services on the island of Oahu have a common bond: to assist where we are needed. We, as a collective group of fire departments, have numerous assets to bring to any emergency call. This particular situation showed that Honolulu, federal and the Aircraft Rescue fire departments could all assist in any situation and overcome the emergency."