2023-05-25 Fire Commission Minutes

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Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes May 25, 2023 Page 5 • Emergency Medical Services: MICT students have moved into their third rotation. EMR and CPR recertifications are continuing. Capt. Lam attended the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit in Atlanta, GA. The EMS Branch assisted with the CPR instructor recertification for the Hawaii Police Department. They're still doing hands-only CPR training with various high schools. • Training Services: Assisted in coordinating a station visit for Hawaiian immersion Daycare, Na Liko Poli Makua. Fire Captain Grant Baclig, conducted the entire presentation in Hawaiian because he went to immersion school himself. Attended a retirement ceremony for Dennis Nagao, ARFF Chief. • Volunteer Training Section: Volunteer Assistant Chief John Bertsch reported they just had their quarterly meeting on the 20th in Discovery Harbor. They're now doing oaths of office, recognizing years of service and retirement within the volunteer program. He noted that adding formality helps to motivate a lot of the new recruits, they are now 18% up and are continuing to grow. Chair Kosaki wanted to know the total number of volunteers. AC Bertsch stated about 165. Similar to the career side, it's a moving number, as soon as they get new people, there are others going out. AC John Bertsch reported they are 90% complete with their vehicle audit of volunteer fleets, which will be helpful to the chief and chief mechanic. They are currently updating their SOGs, making them more applicable. Chief Moller has done a fantastic job on that, it's currently with Corporation Counsel for review. Historically, the volunteer program has been primarily operations, they've realized that the department could utilize the expertise of other volunteers, where they could use them to provide additional training and education. He explained the executive officer program where individuals who may have retired from another fire department or HFD could be rolled into a program through the chief's office and utilized to help train personnel. They're also starting an auxiliary division that would provide support to the BC, get logistics, and provide support services. Chair Kosaki stated that would entail training them in ICS also, maybe they could manage the logistics or a portion of it. AC Bertsch agreed and explained through a grant, they're putting everyone through target solutions vector works. Commissioner Magsalin asked if Fire Commissioners can volunteer. Chief Todd stated his understanding is that there was a volunteer who applied to be a fire commissioner, but it was denied because he can't be the chief's subordinate and his boss at the same time, there could be a conflict of interest. He further stated if you were to volunteer as part of their group, it would be as a fire commissioner volunteering as a fire commissioner. It wouldn't stop you from helping, but you wouldn't be under his command structure, and they wouldn't have you doing firefighter roles.