2024-09-26 Fire Commission Minutes

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Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes September 26, 2024 Page 5 various guidelines regarding taking photos at scenes and posting them, he was uncertain if the department has a specific policy. Chair Kosaki expressed concerns about a recent social media post that he found inappropriate. Chief Todd assured him that he would look into the matter. o Volunteer Training: Chief Todd reported that a security fence will be installed along Kumula Street (1-A) to address issues of trespassing and vandalism. Ainaloa (10-D) is in the process of repainting the 30,000-gallon water catchment tank. Discovery Harbor (11-C) and Pahala (11-D) assisted with the brush fire that occurred on South Point Road on August 15th. o Fire Prevention: In August, the Fire Prevention Branch investigated one structure fire, which occurred in a residential property in District 18, with the origin traced to a plastic storage shed. Prevention has also been enhancing its social media presence. Additionally, plan reviews are being conducted at a rate of 100% within the 14-day review window. • Logistics, Emergency Communications, and Vehicle Maintenance Section: o Logistics: In August, through the fire ordering site, there were 343 customers, and 87 orders were processed, which was $25,000 of products. The issues with Brush Truck 15 have been resolved by the mechanic shop, and it is now back in service. Ice machines have been received and will be installed at Stations 6, 8, and 9. They have also been working on the EPR property list. There was further discussion regarding compressors and SCBA systems. One long-term goal is to establish a specific position for a respiratory technician, similar to Honolulu. The Fire Maintenance position is currently open for recruitment, and this role will initially focus 30% of its efforts on SCBA maintenance. Commissioner Mattos mentioned that this topic was raised during his visit to the station, highlighting that the position handles numerous safety responsibilities, including calibrating hazardous materials and maintaining life-saving equipment like SCBAs. He inquired whether this role would cover all safety-related tasks and noted that the only educational requirement was an eighth-grade education. Chief Todd clarified that he does not have the authority to make that decision. Commissioner Mattos asked if the process is managed by County HR. Chief Todd confirmed that while the position is modeled after an existing county position, the assessment and interview process will aim to select the most qualified candidate with relevant experience and education. He added that the minimum qualifications must align with the position in the county, and there will also be training and certification processes for the selected candidate. Chair Kosaki inquired if this is the same process used for the Safety Officer position. Chief Todd clarified that the Safety Officer position already exists within the county. He had requested several positions from the HFFA that