Fire Department · Career
Kauai Fire Department
Lihue, HI · Kauai County
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Department careers page ↗The Kauaʻi Fire Department (KFD) is a county fire agency serving all of Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi, headquartered in the Piʻikoi Building in Līhuʻe under Fire Chief Michael R. Gibson. The department is organized into Administration/Operations along with a Prevention Bureau, Training Bureau, and Ocean Safety Bureau, and it staffs eight fire stations spread across the island: Hanalei, Kaiākea, Kapaʻa, Līhuʻe, Kōloa, Kalāheo, Hanapēpē, and Waimea.
Beyond structural fire suppression, KFD's Training Bureau runs recruit and in-service drills covering incident command, EMS, hazardous materials, technical rescues, and truck/boat operations, while the Ocean Safety Bureau provides lifeguard coverage, drowning-prevention education, and Junior Lifeguard programs at Kauaʻi's beaches. The department is also active in wildland fire mitigation and community wildfire protection planning given Hawaiʻi's growing wildfire risk, and in 2026 it launched the PulsePoint Respond app to connect CPR-trained bystanders with nearby cardiac emergencies ahead of unit arrival.
MissionTo preserve and protect life, property, and the environment of the Kaua'i County from all hazards and emergencies.
The Kauaʻi Fire Department does not run its own recruitment or job announcements; firefighter hiring is administered by the County of Kauaʻi Department of Human Resources. Candidates apply through County HR and must pass a written test and a physical agility test, both administered on the island of Kauaʻi, to be placed on the hiring eligibility list.
Requirements
- U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, national, or non-citizen with unlimited employment authorization from U.S. Immigration & Naturalization
- Must establish residency in the State of Hawaiʻi within 30 days of beginning employment, as a condition of continued employment
- Training and experience substantially equivalent to graduation from high school
- Two years of general work experience
- Valid motor vehicle operator's license (type 3)
- Must meet the health and physical condition standards of the position
Hiring process
- Apply through the County of Kauaʻi Department of Human Resources
- Pass the written examination
- Pass the physical agility test (administered on Kauaʻi only)
- Qualifying candidates are placed on the eligibility list
New hires and recruit classes are trained through KFD's Training Bureau, which also runs continuing in-service drills in incident command, fire suppression, EMS, hazardous materials, and rescue operations for all personnel.
Does the Kauaʻi Fire Department handle its own firefighter hiring?
No. KFD does not recruit or announce job openings itself; hiring is handled by the County of Kauaʻi Department of Human Resources.
What are the minimum requirements to become a Kauaʻi firefighter?
Training and experience equivalent to a high school diploma, two years of general work experience, a valid type 3 driver's license, and the ability to meet the position's health and physical condition standards. Applicants must also be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, national, or authorized non-citizen, and must establish Hawaiʻi residency within 30 days of hire.
What does the hiring exam process involve?
Candidates must pass both a written test and a physical agility test, both administered on the island of Kauaʻi, to be placed on the eligibility list.
What bureaus make up the Kauaʻi Fire Department?
Administration/Operations, the Prevention Bureau, the Training Bureau, and the Ocean Safety Bureau.
How do I request a copy of an incident or fire report?
Email kfd@kauai.gov with the name(s) of the person(s) involved and the date, time, and location of the incident.