2023-01-26 Fire Commission Minutes

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Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes January 26, 2023 Page 8 These compression devices will be assigned to Medics 6, 8, and 18. The EMS Branch will be on standby for this year's KWXX Downtown Ho'olaule`a. This event is expected to attract approximately 19,000 people and is scheduled for this Saturday. • Training Services: The 51 st recruit class graduated on the 16t", at Nani Mau. For the last few recruit classes, they have been doing co-training with ARFF (State Airport Rescue Fire Fighting teams). They have been sharing training resources and trainers. They also have good relations with PTA, all the live fire burns were done at PTA. The 51 st recruits supported and attended the Hawaii Fire Chief's Conference. The class attended presentations from fire service giants such as Chiefs Rick Lasky, Bobby Halton, and Derek Alkonis. The class was amongst the last to hear Chief Halton speak prior to his untimely passing two days later. They recorded his final speeches, which will eventually be on YouTube, when he gets those videos, he will pass them on to the commission. They're working to tie their vector solutions in with drill reports, which would facilitate more accurate data and analysis of company drill activities. At the moment there isn't a current recruit class. The next class will start around June, they have a meeting tomorrow to finalize hiring decisions. In the meantime, BC Springer is working to deploy training to the stations. Chair Kosaki wanted to know if Fire Commissioners are usually invited to the recruit graduation. Chief Todd stated he believes it has been a thing of the past. He didn't think about inviting other people but will look into it. He further explained there has been a lot of personnel who moved positions within the department, and it kind of got lost in the shuffle. Chair Kosaki stated he believes it's usually the recruit training officer who ensures invitations go out. Chief Todd stated he will let them know that the Fire Commission would like to be invited to future events. Moving forward, his secretary will be involved and will make sure invites go out. • Volunteer Report: Assistant Chief John Bertsch reported that they have been progressing rapidly under the new administration with regard to getting the volunteers more integrated and looped into the program. They have been seeing a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and excitement that is translating to the ability for them to recruit and retain people out in the field and to improve some of the facilities that the volunteers are housed in and the equipment. He invited the Fire Commission to the next quarterly captains' meeting scheduled for February 25, 2023, in Waimea, at Station 9-Bravo. He stated he will email Ms. Correa with details for distribution to commissioners. Training the volunteers is an important aspect and a huge focus for them in 2023, which includes a more manageable curriculum. He thanked Chief Chadwick and Chief Springer for putting a tremendous amount of time and effort into developing the curriculum that they'll be moving forward with and rolling out in 2023. Chair Kosaki asked where the meeting will be held in Waimea. AC Bertsch stated it will be in Waimea, at Station 9-Bravo, Anekona, about eight minutes makai of Waimea. They'll send a map with directions.