Wildland Urban Interface fire training scheduled for May 5 to 8

Published on April 28, 2026

LĪHUʻE – The Kaua‘i Fire Department is notifying the public of wildland urban interface (WUI) fire training exercises scheduled for May 5 to 8 in the Līhu‘e area. The training is being conducted in partnership with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the Responding to the Interface (RTI) program, along with supporting training partners and subject matter experts assisting with course delivery.

The training will include classroom instruction each morning from May 5 through May 8, followed by field-based exercises conducted during the afternoons of May 5 and May 6.

The field training will take place in a subdivision located adjacent to Isenberg Park in Līhu‘e. Residents in the surrounding area may observe increased fire department activity during these scheduled training periods.

As fire service responsibilities continue to evolve, wildland/urban interface response has become an increasingly important component of all-hazards firefighting. In recent years, development in areas where residential communities meet wildland environments has expanded across the country, including in Hawai‘i, increasing the need for specialized training in wildfire behavior, structure protection, incident command, and coordinated response tactics.

The RTI program provides structural fire fighters with standardized instruction focused on safety, command and control, and operational strategies used during wildland fire incidents. The course includes online learning modules, classroom-based instruction, and hands-on field training designed to reinforce practical application in realistic scenarios. In addition to providing direct instruction to participating personnel, the program also prepares selected fire fighters to become certified instructors, allowing the training to be sustained locally within the department.

For more information, please contact KFD Captain Mokuahi at 808-241-4165 or mmokuahi@kauai.gov.

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