Being a search-and-rescue firefighter on the Hawaiian island of Oahu has its upsides. One is the variety of rescues. Firefighters may retrieve victims using high-angle rescues in an urban area on one shift, and during the next they may fly helicopters, ride jet skis in high surf or rappel into mountain canyons to find the lost.

"It is adventurous work," said Honolulu Fire Department Chief Ken Silva.

Oahu's environment makes the job of an HFD search-and-rescue firefighter particularly unique compared with the mainland United States, Silva said. The all-hazard HFD serves the entire island, about 600 square miles. That includes responding to incidents in the Pacific Ocean or along the island's 227 miles of shoreline. At the same time, the department services urban as well as rural, often mountainous areas that house a population of about 900,000.

"Honolulu has hundreds high rises in the urban core, including transient populations staying in hotels," he said. "The island also has wildland areas and our summer months are exceptionally busy for us in battling fire in the wildland-urban interface."

The department also responds to incidents on the island's U.S. military bases. Silva said the department has mutual-aid agreements with the Federal Fire Department that protects military bases, such as the Pearl Harbor Naval Station. It also works alongside the Hickam Air Force Base and state of Hawaii's Air Rescue Fire (ARF) departments. HFD's two, five-person technical search-and-rescue teams respond to any mountain, ocean or other rescues on the military bases, as Federal Fire and ARF do not have rescue companies.

As a result, the department's 1,200 firefighters must be able to handle myriad types of fire calls and search-and-rescue operations, Silva said. They also must meet several qualifications mainland firefighters may not. Since the island is surrounded by water, firefighters must be what Silva dubbed "excellent watermen." He said that many of the department's firefighters are born on Oahu or other Hawaiian islands, spending their youth surfing, kayaking and even scuba diving.

Still, all firefighters must pass a swimming competency test and be trained for rescues in an ocean environment.

"Shoreline companies also are trained in watercraft operation," Silva said.

Indeed, HFD firefighters must wear several hats. As a result, cross-agency training and everyday fire service training become essential, said Bttn. Chief Jeff Farris, a 27-year fire service veteran and chief of special operations.

Farris oversees the hazmat and fire boat programs, as well as the aircraft section of the HFD. He also plans search-and-rescue squad training, which covers high-angle rescues, working aboard aircraft and watercraft, scuba diving, and using thermal-imaging or hydraulic extraction equipment.

Farris said firefighters also need basic firefighting training on apparatus and equipment. They also must be proficient in basic life support skills because a rescue squad has to package the patient, initial triage and then bring the patient to the ambulance, he said.

Training is especially important with special operation companies, which often perform technical rescues. While Farris may advise HFD firefighters on how to attack an incident, he also spends time listening to his field personnel. In fact, he depends on his team's knowledge of the island to determine appropriate search-and-rescue strategies.

"It's important to tap into local knowledge," he said. "Our firefighters are watermen, comfy on mountain trails and chiefs need to solicit their advice during training and at incidents."