Federal Fire Department trains firefighter recruits, partners with Honolulu

The Navy Region Hawaii Federal Fire Department (FFD) trained 33 firefighter recruits, during a 26-week firefighter recruit drill training that continues to take place until September at the Hickam fire training facility on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, which include 29 FFD, including four women and five paramedics, and four state airport firefighters.

During the first week of training in July, firefighter recruits worked hand-in-hand performing several drills in a simulated setting that included a two-story building housefire, a makeshift ship, aircraft, doorways and garages. It was a playground of firefighting props.

From speckles of flame flying from rotary saw drilling to the breaking down of metal and wooden doors, firefighter drill leaders also guided recruits on how to properly wear their gear.

“Upon completion, recruits will receive professional Department of Defense (DoD) certification as firefighter I, firefighter II, hazmat awareness, hazmat operations, airport firefighter, and national certification as emergency medical technicians,” said Gregg Moriguchi, regional fire chief for Navy Region Hawaii Federal Fire Department.

Once FFD recruits graduate in September, they will be assigned to fire stations on military installations on Oahu. In collaboration with the state airport firefighters, the FFD hosts and trains through a cooperative arrangement and sharing of resources.

In addition to FFD hosting training drills for firefighter recruits, they also partnered with the Honolulu Fire Department during a fire drill demonstration on July 7.

“The partnership between our Federal Fire Department and Honolulu Fire Department gives both departments an opportunity to create allies in problem solving, innovation and recruitment,” said Neil Fujioka, deputy fire chief for Navy Region Hawaii. “Lastly, it also reassures our communities of our resources that all firefighters are trained and certified.”

Whether out on a rescue mission risking their lives, firefighters are one team, one fight, as first responders.

Capt. Mark Sohaney, commander, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam said FFD and HFD had this partnership for a very long time, and everybody knows it because it’s part of living on an island. It is one team, one fight, and taking care of the people in our community. Fire response is a part of that.

"We have the Honolulu Fire Department and the Federal Fire Department working together on how to do some basic fire maneuvers,” said Sohaney. “We’d like to do this more often so that we are on the same page. We also have a mutual agreement with the Honolulu Police Department as well and it is important for us to work together to understand both capabilities because we are going to respond to a fire both on the base and off the base. We are one team, one fight.”