2010-02-10 Fire Commission Minutes

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Brandt agreed to report back to the company officers after the meeting for initiating any improvements. --The meeting emphasized how well the Career side and Volunteer side are working together. Volunteer side equipment is readily shared with the County side when needed. Their smaller four-wheel drive trucks have ea accessibility in areas where the bigger engines cannot. Chair Bowles commented on how important it was having had the BC at the meeting and he expressed his hopes that more chiefs attend the Volunteer Company Officers meetings. The next Volunteer Company OfficersÓ meeting is scheduled for sometime in . April at Hawaiian Acres. S-7B is unable to host a meeting until August Commissioner Bertsh commented on the positive professionalism of the volunteer organization and the commission and of Chief Brandt’s continued good communication with the company. He also raised a concern he received about benefits (workers’ compensation, death benefits) provided to volunteer firefighters if they are injured during the course of performing their duties. The subject is referenced in the County Code and the HRS, but referred the matter over to Chief Olivera who is getting it defined by the Corporation Counsel with a written synopsis or informational pamphlet. Some questions posed in writing to the Chief were: What defines performance of duty of a volunteer? Does it include time going to and from training? Is it while training? Is it vehicle maintenance? Is attending the chief’s meeting? What if you’re called out to a fire while in your personal vehicle and get injured in an accident? Etc. --Chief Brandt concluded his report by commenting that in the last eight years of participating in the Volunteer Company Officers type of meeting, the recent meeting was one of the better exchanges of information and dialogue. He looks forward to continuing that type of forum. Prevention Bureau The temporary assignment program is continuing. Firefighters are afforded the opportunity to take their pride and skills into the Fire Prevention Bureau. Going from 24-hour status to 8-hour status is a big change for them. Two temporary assignment personnel (1-Kona; 1-Hilo) had the opportunity to investigate a structure fire in the KaÓu district and spent the day with the prevention captain. Commissioner Bowles shared questions brought to his attention by someone who recently had an inspection done and did not receive a notification of the inspection resultAfter an inspection, how is the disposition followed-up . 7