Volunteer firefighters got some much-deserved love Saturday with the donation of two new fire trucks that’ll bolster the efforts of those in the community who head into danger to protect us all without the expectation of pay.
The two wildland fire trucks were purchased by an anonymous donor at a trade show in Las Vegas and donated to the volunteers via the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation in the wake of the Big Island’s largest wildland fire that scored over 40,000 acres in South Kohala.
One is a Howe &Howe 4×4 Big Dog tanker capable of bringing 1,200 gallons of water and carrying five firefighters to battle flames and the other is wildland 4×4 brush truck that bring in 500 gallons of water and five personnel.
“It’s not often that our foundation is gifted with an entire fire truck, but we have a wonderful benefactor who is amazing about helping us and loves fire trucks,” said Laura Mallery-Sayre, who along with her husband, Frank Sayre, founded the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation nearly 25 years ago after the tragic death of their sonny, Danny. “He (the benefactor) had his house saved a few years back by the fire department, who literally stood at his doorstep and fought away a fire from his home. Out of his gratitude, he was in touch with Battalion Chief Bill Bergin about what he and his wife could do to support the fire department and to a say thank you.”
The Big Dog, which cost $524,000, will be stated at the Hawaii Fire Department 9-B Volunteer Fire Station in Waimea and the brush truck, valued at $235,000, will be stationed at the 9-A Waikii Volunteer Station in Waikii Ranch.
“You’re looking at $760,000 on this lawn right now,” said Mallery-Sayre.
The apparatus are among the latest gifts to the department via the foundation that’s gifted over $10 million to the Hawaii Fire Department over the past 25 years. In the least year alone, four Big Dog tankers have been donated, including Saturday’s Big Dog, in addition to the brush truck and other items. Mallery-Sayre indicted another Big Dog would be purchased in the coming year for the volunteers at Waikii.
“Laura, Frank: You guys do an awful lot for the HFD and we appreciate all that you’ve done for us. We’re just blown away by what you’ve created here,” said Waimea Volunteer Fire Co. 9-B Capt. Mike Shattuck, also thanking the unnamed benefactor. “This is the first time we’ve had to worry about scratching the paint on a vehicle. We’re very grateful.”
Waikii Ranch Volunteer Fire Co. 9-A Capt. Steve Grasso said the new brush truck will not only increase the amount of water they can bring to a fire from 375 gallons to 500 gallons but it will also speed up response compared the unit’s 1987 U.S. Forest Service hand-me-down.
“I’m so excited. We should be able to get down to Waimea in 20 minutes like everyone else now, versus chugging along,” he said, adding that with the second truck expected to arrive in about a year “we’ll really be able to do some good.”
The two fire trucks, which are red and differ from the county’s yellow fleet, were blessed under blue skies with a delicate breeze during a special ceremony held Saturday at the Waikii Ranch polo grounds on the flanks of Maunakea.
The blessing conducted by Kahu Danny and Anna Akaka was in line with a traditional blessing of a Hawaiian voyaging canoe in which wisdom and intelligence is imparted to the vessel via what he called “lolo ‘ana i ka wa‘a.” He likened the fire trucks, ka‘a ahi, to the canoes used by ancient Hawaiians to travel the high seas and return home safely.
“We asked in prayer that these wa‘a holoholo — land sailing canoes or fire trucks — be blessed,” Danny Akaka said after the blessing.
“That they will take all whom are part of our department — the volunteers, everyone who puts there lives on the line for the safety of others — and bring them back home safely.”
The Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation was established after a tragic accident brought to life the equipment needs not covered by the county budget for our fire department. In August 1997, Sayre and Mallery-Sayre’s 25-year-old son Danny Sayre hiked to the back of Pololu Valley, near Kapaloa Falls, to visit the place he called his “cathedral.” During the hike, he apparently slipped and fell 500 feet to the valley floor.
Sayre and Mallery-Sayre could only watch helplessly as multiple attempts to recover their son’s body failed. After 10 hours working in the densely forested location with tree limbs being shredded by the helicopter’s rotors, two firefighters courageously plummeted into the canyon to retrieve Danny’s body, steps from the falls.
“Frank and I will never be able to pay back those of you who gift your time and your energies to rushing in when the rest of us are rushing out to help save lives when the rest of us are standing by unable to do that,” Mallery-Sayre said Saturday. “Thank you for your skills, thank your for time and your energy. Our community — as you can see — loves you.”
Sayre and Mallery-Sayre have since organized annual ceremonies that honor heroes within the department with donations to the foundation being used exclusively to purchase rescue equipment and fund training required by the Hawaii Fire Department. Over the years, the foundation has raised more than $10 million.
The 25th annual Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation awards dinner and fundraiser is tentatively slated for Sept. 3. Mallery-Sayre said the foundation is working steadfastly to find a way to safely hold this year’s event for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Sayre Foundation has just been an amazing partner for the county. This among so many other gifts that they have provided to the county. We cannot thank them enough and today kahu’s blessing was just perfect. Perfect,” said Hilo Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy. “One thing I really wanted to hone in on is that this is for volunteer. I really, really want to acknowledge all the hard work the volunteers do to help protect our community.”
Tax-deductible donations to support the purchase of much needed lifesaving equipment and training for the Hawaii Fire Department can be made on the foundation’s website at DanielSayreFoundation.org or by mailing a check to the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation P.O. Box 1285 Kailua-Kona, HI 96745.