2024-06-25 Fire Commission Minutes

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Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes June 25, 2024 Page 3 Commissioner Mattos asked about the term "personnel actions" in the report. Deputy Chief Moller explained that it refers to transfers or the completion of Form 13s. He mentioned that next month will see a significant increase in these actions due to pay adjustments for everyone. Chair Kosaki noted a typo in the report where it says "greater than 30 days," but it was supposed to be "less than 30 days." Deputy Chief Moller confirmed this and said it would be corrected. • Total Calls for Service: Deputy Chief Moller reported they are at almost 13,000 calls for service for the calendar year. They're estimating around 31,000 total calls for service for the year. • Response Times: They are generally satisfied with the response times, though Deputy Chief Moller noted that they don't have the complete data set yet. • Fire Impacts: They anticipate a milder-than-usual wildland fire season this year due to expected wetter conditions from spring into summer. This presents a double- edged sword: entering a La Nina season typically brings more vegetation growth with cooler and wetter weather, but it also means a delayed drying-out period. They project this dry period to occur later in the year, likely around August or September, possibly July or August. As a result, they anticipate an increase in wildland fires in the near future. • Emergency Operations: o Battalion 1 (East Hawai'i): Two individuals were trapped by floodwaters in Narnia, they were extricated via chopper, without any reported injuries. o Battalion 2 (West Hawai'i): In Kawaihae, a swift water rescue took place when unexpected floodwaters descended from the hillside, surrounding a person in their car. The water split around the vehicle, leaving the individual stuck in the middle. There were no injuries reported. • Special Operations: o Haz-Mat: At Aloha Island Mart on the east side, there was a carbon dioxide release, prompting the evacuation of all employees and customers. On June 4t", a comprehensive multi-agency drill involving CST was conducted, with strong participation and valuable lessons learned that they can apply. o Rescue: Training for Rescue Boat 7 has been completed, and mechanical issues have been repaired. Work on the other boat is progressing well with the repair of the fuel tanks. They aim to have the boat back in operation by summertime.