WVA holding Firewise Community Roundtable Forum this Thursday

WAIKOLOA — The Waikoloa Village Association (WVA) Fire Management Action Committee is hosting a Community Firewise Forum starting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Waikoloa School.

Confirmed roundtable attendees will include representatives from Hawaii fire and police departments, U.S. Army-Garrison Pohakuloa, County Civil Defense, Hawaii Water Service, Waikoloa Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), county council representatives, WVA and Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO).

Lessons will be shared learned from the August fire that burned over 18,000 acres in Waikoloa: what worked, what did not and what could be improved upon. In addition, ample time will be provided for audience questions and answers.

The recent fire is the second largest in Hawaii’s modern history, falling short of the 25,000-acre fire in 2005 that burned to the very edge of Waikoloa Village, forcing evacuation of 75 percent of the town’s then 6,500 residents. Coincidentally, the 2005 fire also took place on Aug. 1, 18 years to date, of the most recent fire.

Waikoloa Village, with HWMO’s assistance, has been a nationally-recognized Firewise Community since 2016, one of eight on Hawaii Island. The Firewise Communities Recognition Program is a nationwide program that recognizes communities for their efforts towards reducing the loss of lives, properties and resources to wildfire. The Firewise Communities approach emphasizes ongoing and active community involvement in wildfire safety.

This meeting is an opportunity to join Waikoloa Village’s grassroots, collaborative effort to protect the community from the growing wildfire threats in the area. For questions about the event, call 408-332-7543 or email mark.gordon333@gmail.com.