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Commissioner Okabe asked if paged volunteers would notify the department <br />if they were unable to respond to an incident. <br />Chief Oliveira replied that when dispatch does not receive acknowledgement, <br />it is assumed that they will not respond to the incident. The only indication <br />that they will respond to a scene is when the volunteer responds on the radio <br />that they are enroute. <br />Commissioner Fergerstrom stated that the volunteers are not necessarily <br />saving the county money. When the volunteers are called, it brings the <br />standard of response time higher. <br />Chief Oliveira agreed that volunteers augment the paid staff. <br />CommissionerFergerstromsaidthatinmostremoteareas,thereisa <br />response time of two hours. With a Volunteer Fire Station placed in these <br />areas, the volunteers respond to the scene, and are later backed up by the <br />regular firefighters. Volunteers give the HCFD the opportunity to bring their <br />response level higher. The HCFD has an area of 4000 square miles, which <br />makes it difficult to raise this level. <br />Commissioner Okabe questioned whether the number of volunteers assigned <br />to a Volunteer Fire Station. <br />Chief Oliveira answered that the minimum is 12 volunteers. <br />Commissioner Okabe questioned if the volunteers were certified through the <br />Fire Department. <br />Chief Oliveira stated that there were no existing rules and guidelines for the <br />volunteers. The department is currently in the process of creating this. There <br />needs to be physical fitness standards, consideration of assigning various <br />duties, and performing background checks. The department is liable for <br />these individuals and is examining the volunteer component. <br />Commissioner Okabe asked if volunteers could be identified at a scene. <br />Chief Oliveira replied that volunteers were issued the same apparel as regular <br />fire fighters. <br />Commissioner Browne asked if the HCFD has looked into Homeland Security <br />to increase the protection at the ports. <br />Chief Oliveira stated that Deputy Chief Wery was working with the States <br />Office of Domestic Preparedness regarding this issue. Federal money comes <br />from Homeland Security for all Public Safety agencies. <br />4 <br /> <br />