The Honolulu Fire Department has been given a limited, short-term reprieve from a federal law that has forced it to refuel its Air One helicopter exclusively at Honolulu International Airport throughout this record brushfire season.

Before the law went into effect in January, HFD was able to refuel its fleet of two emergency helicopters with Jet A aviation fuel from a department tanker truck that could travel to the scene to refuel choppers.

Fire officials complained this week that traveling from the scene to the airport and back eats up a third of the time HFD helicopters could use to make water drops on brushfires.

According to the tax law, aviation fuel piped into a secure airport, such as Honolulu International Airport, cannot be transported away from the airport without violating the airport's secure status.

However, because of the emergency circumstances of this week's Nanakuli brushfire, the Internal Revenue Service has granted HFD a "one time refueling allowance."

"It's true, we did get a waiver to refuel our tanker one more time," HFD Capt. Kenison Tejada said yesterday. "We're pleased that things worked out for now. But we know it's a temporary fix."

Tejada said he wasn't sure when the tanker could be refueled, but as of yesterday he said Air One was still being refueled at the airport.

The waiver came in the form of a letter to Hawai'i's director of transportation, Rodney Haraga, from William F. Conlon, IRS director of special programs. It stated the Nanakuli brushfire, which has consumed nearly 3,000 acres, meets the law's "exigent circumstance" condition.

"This decision is not precedent setting nor is it a change in law, but is done in the interest of public safety and tax administration," it said.

Tejada said the department as well as representatives for the city and county and state are working to resolve the tax law dilemma so that firefighters will be able to refuel from their tanker whenever the need arises.

"The negative impact that this law has created to firefighters and public safety is tremendous," Robert H. Lee, president of the Hawai'i Fire fighters Association, said yesterday.

"Because we have only one fueling facility islandwide, there are no options for us."

Lee said the law hinders public safety in other ways.

"Our helicopters are also an integral part of our oceans and mountain rescue operations, and this situation effectively reduces our quality of service to the public and lowers the level of protection for our firefighters all year round."

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.