Maui County has closed on the purchase of a three-bedroom home on the East End of Molokai. The nearly 11,000-square-foot property will enable the Department of Fire & Public Safety to relocate housing for two firefighters and an office to property acquired mauka of Kamehameha V Highway.

“The current firefighters’ quarters are beyond repair,” Fire Chief Bradford Ventura said. “Housing our firefighters at this newly acquired property will allow our department to maintain emergency-response times within 30 minutes for the 1,500 residents of Puko`o District in East Molokai.”

The current firefighters’ quarters are in an 83-year-old home at Puko`o. The structure is in disrepair and located in a flood-prone area. The property is owned by the state Department of Health and leased to Maui County on a month-to-month basis.

The new property purchased by Maui County for $300,000 is a three-bedroom home built in 1978. It is outside of flood zones, but it will need to be remodeled into two dorm areas and an office space.