The Associated Press

HONOLULU- The Honolulu Fire Department has been granted a one-time waiver from a new federal tax law its says could delay its response to emergencies.

Department spokesman Captain Kenison Tejada says the waiver will allow the deparment to refuel its tanker one more time.

But he say it's only a "temporary fix."

Chief Attilio Leonardi has asked Governor Lingle and US Senator Daniel Inouye for help in getting a permanent exemption from the Internal Revenue Service.

The new law is forcing the department's helicopters to refuel at Honolulu Airport rather than from the department's fuel truck, which expedites refuelings during emergencies.

Pumping fuel from the truck to a helicopter would violate the new law that taxes fuel at lower rates inside an airport.

The new law was prompted by homeland security issues.

Leonardi said that when fuel purchased inside an airport is hauled and used outside its boundaries, it becomes subject to a higher tax.