2011-01-12 Fire Commission Minutes

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Emergency Operations Division New Year’s weekend. There were 14 incidents related to fireworks,compared to 11 last o year. Large brush fire directly related to fireworks in Kona which burnt o approximately 75 to 100 acres. Issue with the selling of luminary balloons. These luminary balloons is o a tissue paper balloon on a wire frame which embedded on that frame is a fuel a pad. It’s a paper fabric type of material that’s soaked with some form of a fuel. The device is intended to be lit,released and then drifts away burning. For the department, it was an immediate fire hazard and concern. The department worked with Corporation Counsel as well as the Mayor’s office, got permission to use funds that was generated inpermit sales to buy out the stock that the retailers had on the shelves. Chair Bowles asked Chief Oliveira who caught that? Chief Oliveira replied that one of the prevention inspectorshappen to see a demo of the product at one of the retailers. By Monday morning, the department was already working on astrategy with Corporation Counsel to get this off the shelf. Chief Oliveira goes on record to say that the fireworks retailers here were very cooperative and a large part is due to the relationship the department has built with the retail industry towork together. At that point, the department was able to negotiate the buying of the products off the shelves. Chief Oliveira stated that he is going to reach out to the UH to do more extensive product testing to identify the composition of the material. Commissioner Moku asked Chief Oliveira if this is a situation where he could talk tohis peers on the other islands. Chief Oliveira replied that he was having correspondence; unfortunately, the chief onKauai was on the mainland,he supported the position but was out of state which made it difficult for him to take a position. On Maui, they didn’t have any product being sold. On Oahu, they weren’t prepared and took a position hoping that nothing would happen. At the State Fire Council on March 6 & 7, this matter is on the agenda so it will be discussed. Chief Oliveira asked volunteer chief Tom Brandt to talk about the volunteer program. Tom Brandt introduced Joel Thompson, volunteer from Fern Forest and also the secretary for the volunteer company of officers. Tom Brandt stated that starting this month,training for CPR AED re-Certification begins. The retired volunteers division is certified as CPR and AED for the County. The next meeting will be February 12, 2011 up Pu‘uanahulu beginning at 10:00 a.m. 4