Hawaii has no single statewide fire department. Each of the four counties runs its own fire service, and that county-level setup decides who answers a 911 call, who inspects a building, and who issues a permit. This page helps you find the station nearest your home, business, or rental on any island. Confirm the address and phone number here before you visit. If you have an emergency, do not search a directory. Call 911 from anywhere in the state.

The islands are small on a map but spread out in practice. A call from downtown Honolulu is handled very differently from one in Volcano or Naalehu, where the closest crew may be a volunteer team or a station many miles away. Knowing how the system is built helps you ask the right office the right question.

How Fire Protection Is Organized in Hawaii

Four county departments cover the islands. The Honolulu Fire Department serves all of Oahu under the City and County of Honolulu. The Hawaii County Fire Department covers the Big Island. The Maui Fire Department covers Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. The Kauai Fire Department covers Kauai. Each is led by a fire chief, and county charters set how that chief is appointed and overseen.

The state's role is narrower than most newcomers expect. Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 132 establishes the State Fire Council, which brings the county fire chiefs together to work on shared standards, including the Hawaii State Fire Code. Counties then adopt the code and may add their own amendments. A smoke alarm rule or an inspection process can therefore differ slightly from Oahu to Kauai. When in doubt, ask the county department that covers your address.

Most people deal with a fire department in four ways: emergencies, fire prevention and inspections, permits, and public records. The nearest station handles emergencies. Inspections, plan review for new construction, and permit questions usually go through a county fire prevention office, which may sit at a headquarters building instead of a neighborhood station. A neighborhood station can be a fine place for a quick question, but the crew may be out on a call.

Oahu: Honolulu Fire Department Stations From Aiea to Waianae

Oahu is the most urban part of the state, and the Honolulu Fire Department is organized to match. Stations are numbered rather than named for towns, so a street address often leads you to a number first. Our directory includes Station 13 in Kalihi Kai, Station 10 on Ulune Street in Aiea, Station 20 near Pearl City, Station 42 in Waikele, and Station 35 in Makakilo, with numbering that runs as high as 42 in our listings.

Windward and North Shore communities belong to the same county. Station 19 in Aikahi serves the Kailua area, Station 17 on Kamehameha Highway is in Kaneohe, and Station 14 on Haleiwa Road covers Waialua and the North Shore. Many people are surprised to learn that Kailua and Kaneohe are not separate cities with their own departments. They are census-designated places within Honolulu County, so the Honolulu Fire Department handles them.

On the Leeward and Waianae coasts, Station 26 sits on Farrington Highway in Waianae, and Station 35 serves Makakilo above Kapolei. These areas have grown quickly, yet they still depend on a handful of main roads. Traffic on Farrington Highway or the H-1 can stretch travel time, so check your route before heading to a station. You can see the full island list on our Honolulu County page.

Neighbor Islands: Distance and Terrain Shape Service

Outside Oahu, distance matters more. The Hawaii County fire service covers roughly 4,000 square miles, which is larger than all the other Hawaiian islands combined. Station 3 in Kawailani serves part of Hilo. Station 14 on Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway serves South Kohala from Waimea, and Station 6 covers Captain Cook in South Kona. Station 11A in Naalehu protects the Kau district, far from any large town. Station 16 serves Waikoloa Village, and Station 18 covers Paradise Park near Keaau.

Maui County spans three islands, and its stations are spread accordingly. The Maui County listings include Kahului Fire Station on Dairy Road, Kihei Fire Department on Waimahaihai Street, and Lahaina Fire Station on Honoapiilani Highway. Lahaina lost much of its historic town in the August 2023 wildfire, so call ahead if you need a service there. Molokai is served from Kaunakakai Fire Station on Ainoa Street, and Lanai has its own Lanai Fire Station.

On Kauai, the Kauai County listings include Lihue Airport Fire Rescue on Mokulele Loop. That is an airfield crew rather than a neighborhood station. The island has fewer stations overall and a limited road network, so confirm which crew actually covers your address before you rely on a particular building.

Volunteer Stations, Airport Crews, Military Units, and Wildland Fire

Rural Puna has a cluster of volunteer stations, which our directory lists with letter suffixes. They include Hawaiian Acres Station 05B in Kurtistown, Hawaiian Beaches Station 10A in Pahoa, Hove Orchid View Circle Station 20A in Mountain View, and Volcano Village Station 19A. The database lists the same phone number, 808-961-8374, for all four. Treat them as community stations that may not have a crew waiting at the door, and do not walk in expecting service. For an emergency, always call 911.

Airport fire stations serve a different purpose. Aircraft rescue crews such as Lihue Airport Fire Rescue are positioned to respond to incidents on the airfield, and they are not set up for neighborhood calls. Military installations on Oahu also run their own federal fire crews, so a fire inside a base gate may draw a different responder than a fire just outside it.

Wildland fire adds another layer. Dry leeward slopes covered in non-native grasses burn fast, especially on windy days. County crews fight most brush fires, and the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife, part of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, also responds on state forest lands. If you live on a dry slope on Maui or the Big Island, clear vegetation near your home and learn your evacuation routes before a fire starts.

Before You Call or Visit a Hawaii Fire Station

A little preparation saves time, especially on the neighbor islands where one station may cover a large area. Use this short checklist.

Station addresses in rural areas can be unusual. Some use highway names or road names with no clear house number, so check a map before driving out. If a station looks unattended, do not wait there. Call 911 or go to the nearest hospital instead.

Fire departments across Hawaii range from large career departments in major cities to volunteer departments serving small rural communities, all operating under state fire codes and local ordinances to protect residents from fire and emergency hazards.

Fire Departments locations are available in 50 cities across Hawaii. They are spread across 4 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Honolulu, Hilo, Kailua, which have multiple fire stations strategically located to maintain rapid response times for their dense populations.

Residents of Hawaii should know your local fire department's non-emergency phone number so you can request burn permits, safety inspections, and community programs without tying up the 911 emergency line.

Fire Departments by Counties

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Residents of Hawaii planning any outdoor burning should contact their local fire department for open burning regulations and permit requirements, which can vary significantly by county and season due to drought conditions and fire danger ratings.

Browse Fire Departments by county across Hawaii to find the nearest location.

Seasonal Risks and Local Rules for Fire Safety in Hawaii

Fire risk in Hawaii changes with the island and the season. Windward sides stay green most of the year, while leeward areas of Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island dry out quickly. Fast-growing non-native grasses carry flames across open land, and strong trade winds push them along. County departments often issue public warnings on high-risk days, so check your county's website or social media before you burn, grill near dry brush, or park a hot vehicle in tall grass.

Dense housing creates a different risk. Honolulu has many high-rise condominiums, and the 2017 Marco Polo fire led the city to tighten alarm and sprinkler expectations for older residential towers. If you live in one, learn your building's evacuation plan and find the stairwells ahead of time. Do not use elevators during a fire alarm unless crews tell you to. Ask your association which fire safety upgrades the building has completed.

Some island hazards sit outside the fire department's core job, even though crews help. Volcanic activity on the Big Island, tsunami warnings, and hurricane preparedness are handled by county civil defense and emergency management offices and the state Emergency Management Agency. Outdoor warning sirens are tested statewide on the first working day of each month at 11:45 a.m., so a siren at that time is normally a test.

If you plan to stop by a station, call first and go on a weekday during daytime hours. Crews respond to calls at any moment, and a locked bay door usually means they are out. Bring your questions and your address, and ask which office handles permits for your area.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fire Departments in Hawaii

No. Hawaii has four county fire departments: the Honolulu Fire Department on Oahu, the Hawaii County Fire Department on the Big Island, the Maui Fire Department for Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, and the Kauai Fire Department. Each answers to its county government. The State Fire Council, created under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 132, coordinates the four chiefs and the state fire code, but it does not dispatch crews. The Department of Land and Natural Resources handles some wildland responsibilities on state lands, and state airports have their own rescue crews. To find the right office, start with the county where your address is located.

Call 911 for any fire, smoke, explosion, medical emergency, or rescue. Give the island, town, street address, and nearest cross street, then stay on the line. For non-emergency matters such as a permit question, a smoke alarm, or a station visit, call the station or the county fire prevention office directly, using the phone numbers in our listings. Station phones may go unanswered when crews are out on a call, so leave a message or try the administrative office during weekday business hours. Never tie up 911 with routine questions.

Often yes, and the rules differ by county. Fireworks generally require a permit from the county fire department, and the most powerful aerial types are heavily restricted for consumers. Open burning is limited by state air-quality rules and by county fire regulations, and it is especially dangerous during dry, windy periods in leeward areas. Before you light anything, call your county fire prevention office and ask whether you need a permit and whether any burn restrictions are active that day. You can be held responsible for damage if a fire you start spreads to a neighbor's property.

For records, send a written request to the county fire department that responded. Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act, Chapter 92F of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, governs public records, though some personal details may be withheld and copying fees may apply. Include the date, address, and type of incident. For inspections, new-construction plan review, or fire code questions, contact the county fire prevention office rather than a neighborhood station. Business owners should have the property address and tax map key number ready. Processing times vary, so ask about the expected timeline when you submit your request.

Puna communities such as Hawaiian Acres, Hawaiian Beaches, Hove Orchid View, and Volcano Village have volunteer fire stations, listed in our directory with codes like 05B, 10A, 20A, and 19A. The Hawaii County Fire Department also operates stations nearby, including Station 18 in Paradise Park near Keaau and Station 3 in Hilo. Volunteer coverage means responders may travel from home or work, so response can take longer than in urban Honolulu. Many rural lots lack hydrants, which makes working smoke alarms, cleared vegetation, and a clear driveway especially important. Always call 911 rather than driving to a volunteer station.

Hawaiian place names repeat across the islands. Kailua on Oahu's windward side is served by the Honolulu Fire Department, including Station 19 in Aikahi on Kaneohe Bay Drive. Kailua-Kona on the Big Island falls under the Hawaii County Fire Department. Waimea also exists on both the Big Island and Kauai, and the Big Island's Station 14 serves South Kohala from Waimea. Before you drive anywhere, check the county and island shown with each station, not only the town name. Postal addresses can also differ from the community name, so confirm the street address before you set out.