Fire departments across the state are reevaluating their emergency communication capabilities after the Maui wildfires, when the vulnerability of the island’s cellular network — and a lack of advanced communication tools in fire vehicles — complicated efforts by first responders as they confronted one of the worst disasters in Hawaii’s history.
On Oahu, a county-level “interagency communications group” now meets about once a week and often brings in private cell carriers, including AT&T, to discuss how the island’s coverage would be affected in various disaster scenarios, Fire Chief Sheldon Hao said.
Related: Hawaii Study: Nearly 75% of Wildfire Survey Participants Have Respiratory Issues
On Kauai, emergency responders aim to fill a puka, or hole, in their communications coverage on the island’s north shore by installing a new cell tower at Haena. They want to improve reception from Princeville to Ke’e Beach, where lifeguar