The U.S. National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the leeward areas of all islands. A Red Flag Warning means critical fire weather conditions could or will occur as the combination of dry fuels, strong and gusty winds, and very dry weather set the stage for the possibility of extreme fire behavior.

The Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) is supplementing its islandwide emergency response to wildland fire incidents by increasing its staffing and equipment and denying requests for agricultural burning when a Red Flag Warning has been issued. The HFD remains prepared and ready to respond to emergencies in collaboration with state and federal fire resources.

However, the communities we serve can also help by being proactive. The HFD urges the public to safeguard their homes and surrounding areas with the following preventative safety tips:

• Avoid outdoor burning, including imus, and do not leave barbecue/charcoal grills unattended.
• Create at least a 30-foot safety zone around the house by removing brush and other vegetation.
• Prune trees so the lowest branches are six to ten feet from the ground.
• Store flammable materials safely away from the exterior of your home.
• If it can catch fire, do not let it touch your house.
• Make and practice a family evacuation plan.
• Wildland fire can spread to treetops.
• Report suspicious activity you may have seen before, during, or after a fire.
• Keep fire lanes and access points unobstructed to ensure fire apparatuses can reach your home.

For more information about wildland fire preparedness, please return to the HFD website home page.