2020-12-09 Fire Commission Regular Minutes

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Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Minutes December 9, 2020 Page 3 Emergency Operations Division: Apparatus E-7, E-17, and E20 were received, inspected, and registered. The department's Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) team met and discussed revisions for the COOP and Pandemic Annex. Four FUR thermal imaging cameras were received. East Hawaii had a structure fire with a civilian fatality. West Hawaii had a solar panel structure fire at the Queen's Marketplace. ✓ Hazmat: Gas monitors in-service training was completed and new units were placed in service. Replacement of Tyvek suits and gloves was approved and are being received. ✓ Ocean Safety: The storage container for Ha -puna was installed. Ocean Safety personnel volunteered their time to build ramps for the ATV/UTV to access the container. This will provide for better operation and theft prevention. iPads for all towers and officers were approved and sent out for bids. WSO staffing is full, aside for the WSO III at Hapuna. AC Okinaka has been working with the Ocean Safety captains and Rescue Watercraft operators to spec out new Waverunners and rescue sleds to replace the aging units. • Support Services Division: Chief reported that they are working on a training center at Hilo Airport. They have a burn trailer there but want to expand the area. They don't have the funding, and so will look for alternative funding and grants. They have a vision for the place, and are working on it. ✓ Training: Captain Nagamine attended the Pohakuloa Training Area live burn training, and is now a "Live Burn Instructor" for their freight container burn room prop. They worked on the logistics for a two-week long Hazmat technician class at Hilo ARFF (airport). ✓ Volunteer Training: Commander Bertsch reported that they host a quarterly captain's meetings, but due to Covid, their meetings are being done virtually. On his bucket list is recruitment and retention of volunteers and continuing to perfect their training. A big goal for 2021 is acquiring surplus vehicles from other departments on the mainland. Oftentimes, the vehicles are in very good condition, and they can get them for almost free. However, the shipping and logistics of getting them to Hawaii has to be worked on. The current weather pattern has created a ripe environment for wildland fires. In the last 30 days, they have had large fires on the Akonepule Highway, Waikoloa Highway 190, and Ka'u. They want to enhance their community engagement with their volunteer captains. It is important that they inform communities about cutting trees and vegetation away from houses which could be fuel for fires. Commissioner Magsalin stated that they are no longer allowed to take green waste to the recycling centers. Commissioner Agdeppa thanked Commander Bertsch and their volunteers for helping the frontline guys, especially on the