2006-04-12 Fire Commission Minutes

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(Open to the Public) STATEMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS None (Executive Session) STATEMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Matsuda moved to accept the March 8, 2006, regular session minutes. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Browne and unanimously carried. APPROVAL OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS Commissioner Browne moved to accept communication numbers 06-005 and 06-006. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Okabe and unanimously carried. CHIEFS REPORT/NEW BUSINESS Vice-Chair Brazier requested that the topic under new business, Overview of the Volunteer Program, be addressed in the Chiefs report. On behalf of the Fire Department, Deputy Chief Desmond Wery welcomed newly appointed Fire Commissioner John Bertsch. He mentioned that Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira was unable to attend todays meeting because his is on Oahu attending HFFA Fire Negotiation meetings. Overview of the Volunteer Program by Captain Russell Enriques and · Volunteer Fire Chief Tom Brandt. Captain Russell Enriques explained that the Hawaii County Fire Department wasfoundedin1888andbeganwithvolunteers.Thefirstpaidfirefighterwas hired in 1924 to oversee the volunteers. On the Big Island, the HCFD currentlyhasacombinationofpaidandvolunteerfirefighters.TheVolunteer Training Division operates to provide direction, coordination and oversight to thevolunteerfireprogram.Theinstruction,certificationandsupportofthe volunteer program fall primarily on the personnel of the Volunteer Training Division.Atthepresenttime,CaptainEnriquesisthesolepersoninthe division. Presently, there are 24 volunteer companies situated around the island,whicharecomprisedofapproximately350volunteerfirefighters.The fleet of trucks consists of 35 operating vehicles. These vehicles are older modelvehiclesandhavebeendonatedbyothercountiesorareonloanfrom the Department of Forestry. The structure of the organization is paramilitary. Operationsfallundertheincidentcommandsystemandordersaregivenby 2