2020-08-18 Fire Commission Regular Minutes

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Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Minutes August 18, 2020 Page 4 Their Bureau transitioned to a 24-hour pilot program, and it has increased their capabilities. Commissioner Nishimoto asked if they had adequate staffing and funding and if there was a plan in place to address Covid increases. Deputy Perreira stated that he can only speak for the Prevention and Education Task Force. They have adequate staffing for the businesses they are visiting. The Fire Department is building their own internal task force so they would be ready with their policies, procedures, and guidelines internally for a positive exposure in their department. The Mayor has given approval that money is not an issue because they have $80 million Cares money to spend by December 30. When the money runs out, they'll just have a smaller team. The Mayor said about a month and a half ago that we cannot relax now. We got to be ready. When you are not getting hit in your face in a fight, you put your hands down. That's when you get hit in your face. So, they got to keep their guard up. They got to be ready right now. Chair Yamada inquired about performing the 600 tests at Kona Hospital. Deputy Perreira stated that they are there to help support the testing by setting up the area with tents and tables and temperature checks. The medical facilities, are the ones who control the actual tests. They have a sole source contract with Dr. Scott Miscovich of Premier Medical Group on Oahu. When they have something on our island that the Mayor wants ramped up, they activate their sole source contract, and within 12-24 hours, they have to be ready to test. Chair Yamada asked about training of Fire Department personnel on proper interactions with the public. Deputy Perreira state that they put out information through different forms. Some are through their Target Solutions Training Application, some through memos from the Chief's office, the EMS Bureau, or the Training Bureau. As far as conduct, Fire Department personnel are professionals, and they conduct themselves professionally. They also have officers in charge of incidents. If they see somebody not conducting themselves appropriately, they have to address that. The department also does quarterly training. Conduct and conduct in the public is always something they need to be aware of. They need to make sure they remain professional no matter how the person may be treating them or what the situation may be. Every once in a while they may receive a concern from the public. They investigate, they educate their personnel, and if they need to, they discipline. Their personnel are very professional out there, and that's why the public loves the Fire Department. They respect them. Chair Yamada asked if there was a plan or network for the schools to be proactive with the teachers and students and proper protocol instead of relying on the DOE.