2020-03-11 Fire Commission Regular Minutes

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Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes March 11, 2020 Page 3 • Support Services Division ✓ Volunteer Training: They gained 3 more volunteers. All volunteers in East and West Hawaii received training on portable fire extinguishers. ✓ EMS Bureau: The bureau has been actively involved with Coronavirus issues and maintaining inventory and distribution of PPEs. MICT interns started training in Honolulu. One month clinicals will be hospital and ambulance rotation and then four months internship. The bureau launched its new STEMI transport to Hilo Medical Center from Waimea and N5'51ehu. Anyone with a 2 -hour window will be transported directly to HMC which allows them to get to the hands of a doctor quicker. ✓ Prevention Bureau: Their Smoke Alarm Program is running with an additional 500 devices from the Red Cross. One employee was accepted for training at the National Fire Academy. Commissioner Agdeppa inquired about the Makalei Bill in the legislature. AC Perreira stated that they want to support Station 21, but they want enough funds for Station 18 first. They were focusing on funding for what they have now, which is Station 18, and then this Makalei Bill popped up. It's not their priority, but if they get it, they will have to find a way to support it with manpower. Additionally, they could use another medic in Kailua-Kona because Medic 7 is very busy. Commissioner Payesko inquired about the Fire Captain's position that is on hold. AC Perreira stated that they have a reorganization plan for the Prevention Bureau. There are only two captains, and one is vacant. If they move to 24 hours, they will need three captains. They will also need more clerks for both East and West Hawai'i. Commissioner Payesko asked about their legislative priorities. AC Perreira stated that they want Ocean Safety personnel working from dawn to dusk. They have to work with the union and will have to look at scheduling and manpower. It's being pushed by Oahu. Commissioner Payesko asked if they would be shutting down stations because of Covid-19. AC Perreira stated that workforce reduction is a consideration, but they want to prevent it. The Mayor's message is that they don't want to scare people. They want to educate them. They have considered using one of the fire stations for isolation and are looking at other facilities. ✓ Auxiliary Services: AC Todd is working with Volunteer Commander Bertsch on the Volunteer website. They are working on a contract for Bullard wipes and care kits for decontamination of their new FXR350 helmets. They continue to work on the warehouse labeling project. They are waiting for installation of a server for the Active 911 Project. They are waiting for a Fire Dispatcher I