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Chapter 2 <br /> <br />Organization <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />The County of Hawaii Fire Department (HFD) has grown and evolved its workforce since <br />beginning operations in 1888 as a volunteer group of citizens who organized themselves into the <br />Hilo Volunteer Fire Department. HFD is an "all-hazards" department consisting of twenty career <br />and eighteen volunteer stations. All hazards mean the department responds to an array of <br />incidents whose categories include but are not limited to fire protection, rescue, hazmat, EMS and <br />Ocean Safety. <br /> <br />HFD has a workforce of approximately 570 individuals consisting of paid firefighters, volunteers, <br />administration, and specialty roles, covering a service area of 4,028 square miles and protecting <br />the lives and property of 200,528 residents. <br /> <br />When fire or EMS services can't or aren't administered correctly, people can perish, and property <br />is put at risk of destruction. Nationally, in 2020, direct fire damage was estimated to have caused <br />$ 21.9 billion in property damage and caused 3,500 civilian deaths. One hundred forty firefighter <br />fatalities were reported. Departments across the country are adapting to increasing volumes of <br />EMS calls and other threats, including increased natural disasters and acts of terrorism. <br /> <br />Consequently, decision-makers need tools to determine the optimal alignment of resources with <br />the service commitments required for the adequate protection of citizens. <br /> <br /> <br />8 P a g e <br />