2020-09-09 Fire Commission Regular Minutes

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Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes September 9, 2020 Page 3 EMTs. Two MICTs and two EMTs completed their requirement evaluations and certifications and have moved to 24-hour shifts. ✓ Volunteer Training: Volunteer Commander John Bertsch stated that he has been a volunteer firefighter for 23 years. They usually have 180-200 members, but due to Covid, they currently have about 138. Many of the volunteers are applying for firefighter recruit. The volunteer section is strictly a force multiplier for the front line fire crews. The volunteer program is equipped with specialty equipment, oftentimes with four-wheel drive brush trucks and tankers that give them the ability to go off-road. That was the cornerstone of their wildland fire fighting within the county. Through grants and forward -thinking of the Chief, the frontline companies are now being equipped with those same vehicles. Because of the drop in their numbers on the volunteer side, it has become apparent and incumbent on them to start actively recruiting. Anytime they do recruiting, it requires some funding for posters, distribution of material, and community outreach. Even a little of the Cares funding would help. Hopefully, somebody would give them a couple hundred dollars to start actively recruiting. In response to a question about being a force multiplier, Commander Bertsch explained that that their additional manpower and equipment enables the incident commander to prioritize his resources and oftentimes is able to send back into district the companies who came out to give support. Chief Rosario added, that when the volunteers come out, it expands the amount of personnel and equipment. In response to questions, Chief Rosario stated that all the volunteers are trained firefighters, but they do not don an air tank and do not do entry. That requires constant training and evaluation. John's company is mostly young, and they do well. They are trained and equipped. They have the same PPE that the career personnel have. However, a lot of times they get the hand-me-downs. They have four volunteer stations in Puna — Paradise Park, Ainaloa, Hawaiian Acres, and Volcano. Commissioner Paleka stated that he likes concentrating on recruitment, and it needs more discussion. Chief Rosario stated that the Volunteer Program is not funded in the county budget. They are only funded for two career positions that train the various companies and $10,000 that the captains use for such things as shirts. He has not been successful at getting additional monies for the volunteers. The Council has to approve the startup of a volunteer station. It would cost about $1 million for land, building, and equipment. The volunteers have always been the stepchild who gets the hand-me-downs. A new pumper costs $700,000. If their apparatus breaks down, it could sit for a long time waiting for repairs. The Ironman Foundation bought a brush truck for them.