By Visionary Video, David Corrigan and Stephanie Salazar

[Video by Lynn Beittel and Matt Binder, Visionary Video]

KONA, Hawaii: An alarming sight for residents along the highway in Kona, as this small brushfire thrived in the day’s dry, windy conditions.

Firefighters had the blaze under control before long on Sunday.

In this video, acting captain of the Hawaii County Fire Department’s Keauhou Fire Station, Kel Kunitomo, offered the camera crew some insight into the incident.

There were no reported injuries as a result of this brushfire.

Voice of Stephanie Salazar

HAWAII COUNTY, Hawaii: With the public hearings completed, the fire commission took a vote and has chosen Darren Rosario as the new Hawaii County Fire Chief.

Rosario is seen in this video at the Moses building fire in Downtown Hilo last Halloween,

An Assistant Fire Chief, Rosario was chosen by the fire commission from among the five finalists.

As chief, Rosario will overseen approximately 350 fire fighters, twenty fire stations, water safety officers, as well as volunteer fire fighters and administrative staff. …and the department’s more than $35 million dollar budget.

Rosario takes over for the retired Chief Darryl Olivera.

Video courtesy Hawaii County Police Department | Voice of Stephanie Salazar

The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawai’i recognized the Officer and Firefighter of the Year at a recent dinner ceremony in Hilo.

On March 24th, Officer Lloyd Ishikawa was named “Officer of the Year” and Battalion Chief Lance Uchida was named “Firefighter of the Year”

The two men were each given a plaque – and heard plenty of compliments – during this event at the Hilo Yacht Club.

Ishikawa is a patrol officer in the Puna District who joined the Police Department in 1986. Uchida, a 17-year veteran of the Fire Department, is in charge of Emergency Medical Services.

From the Hawaii County Police Department:

The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawai’i recognized Officer Lloyd Ishikawa as “Officer of the Year” and Battalion Chief Lance Uchida as “Firefighter of the Year” in a dinner ceremony Thursday evening (March 24).

Ishikawa is a patrol officer in the Puna District who joined the Police Department in 1986. Uchida, a 17-year veteran of the Fire Department, is in charge of Emergency Medical Services. During a ceremony at the Hilo Yacht Club, each man received a plaque from the Aloha Exchange Club, a proclamation from the mayor’s office and a gift basket of donated items.

Ishikawa was honored for what Sergeant Juergen Canda called “his dedication to duty and initiative” that led him to make five bench warrant arrests, close three felony all-points bulletins, recover a stolen vehicle and locate a runaway “all within a span of one hour.”

On July 29, 2010, Officer Ishikawa responded to the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision to assist in locating a wanted person. He located the person and assisted in arresting him for two outstanding bench warrants. While in the subdivision, he investigated complaints about suspicious persons in the neighborhood and located three adults and a juvenile. Two of the adults were wanted for outstanding bench warrants and felony auto theft all-points bulletins and the juvenile was a reported runaway. The third adult was in possession of a stolen vehicle.

“This is a tremendous feat of police work by Puna’s most senior officer, who not only leads by example in his dedication to duty, but with the vigor and enthusiasm of a rookie,” Canda wrote in his nomination papers.

At the “Officer of the Year/Firefighter of the Year” ceremony, Deputy Police Chief Paul Ferreira said the incident that was cited in Ishikawa’s nomination is just an example of his commitment to the job. “This is what he does on a daily basis. This is how hard he works,” Ferreira said. “I’m very, very proud to be here with him tonight.”

Uchida was recognized for his oversight of the Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Services Bureau. In a write-up about his accomplishments, Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira said Uchida was promoted to Battalion Chief of the EMS Bureau on December 1, 2010.

“Like every assignment that is asked of him, Battalion Chief Uchida accepted his new assignment with the willingness and open mind to learn, the ability to lead, and the continued passion for his chosen career choice,” Oliveira wrote. “Battalion Chief Lance Uchida is one of the reasons the Hawai’i Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Services program has been so successful in the County of Hawai’i. He truly cares about what he does and always strives to make a positive impact for the people he serves.”

In addition to overseeing Emergency Medical Services, Uchida also provides CPR, AED and first aid training to the community, mentors high school students and is active in community service.

During the awards ceremony, Oliveira described Uchida as a “go-to person” and a role model to other firefighters. “Thank you for being there for the community in everything that you do,” he said.

The “Officer of the Year” and “Fire Fighter of the Year” awards are projects of the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawai’i.

October 9, 2010 – Hilo, Hawaii

By Stephanie Salazar

Join the fire men and women of the Hawaii County Fire Department as they kick off Fire Prevention Week with static displays and demonstrations for the public at the Hilo Bayfront area on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010.

The week-long event finale will take place in Kailua-Kona on Saturday, Oct. 16, at Lowe’s parking lot. Both events will start at 9:30 a.m. and end at 1 p.m.

Each day includes an old fashioned bucket brigade at 11 am in both Hilo and Kona.

This year’s nationwide theme is, “Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With!”

“Many homes may not have any smoke alarms, not enough smoke alarms, alarms that are too old, or alarms that are not working,” said Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira in a media release. “We want our residents to understand that working smoke alarms are needed in every home, on every level (including the basement), outside each sleeping area and inside each bedroom. And, if a smoke alarm is 10 years old or older, it needs to be replaced.”

Mobile version of video

July 3, 2010 – Hilo, Hawaii

Video by David Corrigan

A structure fire burned through a single family dwelling on Ilima Lane off Kukuau Street in Hilo in the early afternoon on Saturday.

Fire officials say no occupants were home at time of fire.

Firefighters were on the scene just a few minutes after the 12:47 p.m. alarm and had the fire under control by 1 p.m.

An early report says most of the fire damage was to the kitchen and living room area. The blaze spread through the carport, laundry room and bathroom, causing an estimated $150,000 of damage. There was also smoke and heat damage to the three bedrooms.

The fire department says one vehicle in the carport was removed by a neighbor prior to the firefighters’ arrival and was saved from fire damage.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. A resident of the area told Big Island Video News that they saw a masked individual leaving the area on a bike at the time of the fire. However, there has been no official word on this claim from investigators.

Mobile version of video

June 26, 2010 – Honokaa, Hawaii

Video by David Corrigan | Voice of Tim Bryan

Fire fighters at the Honokaa Fire Station moved back into their quarters on Friday, June 25, 2010, following a 1½ month long relocation due to repairs and renovations at their station.

The county says the renovations were necessary to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as to address the removal and abatement of hazardous materials repairs.

Firefighters were temporarily stationed at a Mamane Street residence during the renovation.

Pepeekeo, Hawaii -

A Pepeekeo resident’s quick action using a garden hose may have saved a neighbor’s home on Saturday.

Hawaii County fire officials say that when they responded to a 6:40 a.m. alarm for a structure fire on Kalika Place, they arrived to find the reported fire already extinguished. A neighbor had apparently doused the flames with a garden hose.

Fire officials say the neighbor also woke the occupants, helping them to evacuate the burning two story, single family dwelling.

Fire crews worked to ventilate the home, which was still engulfed in heavy black smoke.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Fire officials say there was a $30,000 loss due to the fire, but also noted that $250,000 was “saved.”

Find happens day after search scaled back

Hilo, Hawaii – Video by Baron Sekiya, www.Hawaii247.com

The body of a California man who went missing while swimming in the Wailuku River has been found, after days of searching.

24 year old Ryan J. Ritzel,  an employee of the visiting Pride of America cruise ship, was last seen swimming with friends at Boiling Pots in Hilo, at the base of Peepee Falls. 

The Hawaii County Fire Department says the body was recovered shortly after 9 a.m. on Sunday.

Chopper One located the body “in the area that he was last seen” along the Wailuku River, and fire rescue ground teams helped the chopper recover the body. The case has now been turned over to the Hawaii County Police Department.

Recent rainfall has caused the Wialuku River to swell into violent rapids in recent weeks.  When Ritzel was first reported missing, police and fire rescue began a search that would last for three days. The video seen above, courtesy Baron Sekiya of www.Hawaii247.com, is from Saturday. The fire department decided to scale down the search operation, before finding the body this morning.

Visitor from California believed to have been swept away in Wailuku River

Hilo, Hawaii – Video by Baron Sekiya, Hawaii247.org

Hawaii County Police continue to search up and down the Wailuku River for 24 year old Ryan J. Ritzel, who was last seen swimming at Boiling Pots.

Ritzel is an employee of the visiting Pride of America cruise ship, and was swimming at the location with 5 co-workers. Police say the co-workers called 911 when they discovered Ritzel was missing.

Ritzel is described as Caucasian, 5-foot-9, with a slim build, short brown hair and blue eyes. He was wearing white and blue swimming trunks. No itmes belonging to Ritzel have been recovered.

Fire Department personnel have been searching the area but have been unable to locate him. Helicopters have been deployed to assist in the operation.

Boiling Pots sits at the base of Peepee Falls, and flows downhill to eventually feed the more famous Rainbow Falls before entering the ocean. Boiling Pots gets its name from the way the tiered river ponds seem to boil when the water gets churning. The area is off limits to swimmers and can be extremely dangerous when heavy rains pass through Hilo.

Police ask that anyone with information on his whereabouts call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.

Aloha Exchange Club honors Willie Brown and Christian Wong

March 19, 2010 – Hilo, Hawaii
Video courtesy the Hawaii County Police Department

Officer William “Willie” Brown Captain Christian Wong were both honored as “Officer of the Year” and “Fire Fighter of the Year” respectively, by the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii during a dinner ceremony Thursday evening at the Hilo Yacht Club.

Officer Brown, who joined the Police Department in 2003 and now patrols the Puna District, was honored for his investigation of a burglary ring in Mountain View.

Sergeant Juergen Canda, who nominated Brown, says the new Officer of the Year was assigned to a burglary task force because of his “outstanding investigative skills” in connection with a burglary in the Pacific Paradise Gardens subdivision. The police department says Brown’s efforts in that investigation led to the arrest of four suspects, the closure of four burglary cases linked to those suspects, and the recovery of property.

“Officer Brown’s distinctive accomplishment had a tremendous impact on burglaries plaguing the Mountain View neighborhoods and reduction in further offenses,” Canda wrote. “His abilities and dedication to duty resulted in successes that enhanced community confidence in our efforts to serve them and reflect credit upon Officer Brown and the Hawai’i Police Department.”

Meanwhile, Captain Wong was recognized for offering to form a pandemic planning committee, which ultimately drafted the Fire Department’s Pandemic Preparation Plan.

“Captain Wong has been instrumental in every phase of this project of education, training and vaccination of all of our personnel in our Fire Department,” said Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira in his nomination papers. “Without his dedication, persistence and passion for seeing this through, our department would have not been prepared when the first wave of the H1N1 virus reached our state and, of course, our island.”

Both men offered humble thanks to their respective departments and to the community.

The Officer of the Year and Fire Fighter of the year awards are projects of the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii.

This video, courtesy by Hawaii247.org, shows a brushfire breaking out in Fern Acres in Puna.

Over two acres of land burned between 1 Road  and Plumeria Street. Reports say the owner of the property had been attempting to clear his land but lost control of a fire.

There were no injuries reported.

Video by Baron Sekiya, Hawaii247.org, voice of Tim Bryan

Firefighters also fought three separate brushfires on Thursday along this stretch of Hookena Beach  Road.

About 1 acre of open pasture land owned by McCandless Ranch was scorched by the three fires.  The blaze forced the closure of the road.

Stephens Media reports said that authorities considered the cause of the fires to be suspicious.

Video by David Corrigan, voice of Tim Bryan