|
Hawaii Fire Commission
<br /> Regular Session Minutes
<br /> September 25, 2025
<br /> Page 2
<br /> (Vice Chair Hirakami arrived at 9.04 a.m.)
<br /> • Human Resources: There are currently 41 total vacancies in the department.
<br /> Numerous recruitment processes are underway. The department promoted its first
<br /> female Operations Battalion Chief in the history of HFD. The report's data on internal
<br /> investigations was corrected; there are five active investigations, not zero, and the
<br /> average completion time is closer to 90 days, not five. The department is
<br /> considering using external investigators to expedite the process.
<br /> • Emergency Operations: Salaries and wages total $34,967,000, and current
<br /> expenditures are at $7.5 million. The target expenditure rate is 20.8%, and they're
<br /> currently at 21.66%, largely due to an active fire season, particularly in Hamakua,
<br /> which has experienced 80 fires compared to the typical 30 for this time of year.
<br /> In August, the division responded to 2,692 calls: 104 fire calls, 1,908 EMS calls, and
<br /> 608 classified as "other." Year-to-date, the department has responded to 21,889
<br /> calls and is on track for approximately 31,000 by the end of the year. The "other"
<br /> category, representing about 25% of total calls, includes welfare checks, lift assists,
<br /> and other non-fire or EMS public service responses. Average response times in
<br /> August were 9 minutes and 13 seconds for EMS, and 12 minutes and 54 seconds
<br /> for Fire. There were 36 wildland fires, burning a total of 58 acres, and six structure
<br /> fires (49 year-to-date).
<br /> • Special Operations: OCE is at $161,000, and equipment expenditures are at
<br /> $192,000. Aircraft operations achieved 90% uptime in August, meeting the
<br /> department's goal of maintaining over 90% (93.3% year-to-date). There was a
<br /> discussion regarding the minimum proficiency training requirements for Rescue and
<br /> HAZMAT personnel for August.
<br /> A discrepancy in the report was noted between the year-to-date EMS call count
<br /> (15,434) and the AILS transport count (16,513). This was likely due to a data entry
<br /> error.
<br /> • Ocean Safety: Salaries and wages total $3.9 million, with approximately 18.53%
<br /> expended, compared to a target of 20.83%, due to staffing vacancies. In August,
<br /> there were 323,569 beach visitors, with 235 preventable actions, 202 minor medical
<br /> aids, five major medical aids requiring transport, and 34 rescues, for a year-to-date
<br /> total of 458. Currently, there are three rescue watercraft operators, with a goal of
<br /> nine. The department aims to staff the towers at greater than 80%; current staffing
<br /> levels are at 75%.
<br /> • EMS: Salaries and wages are at 18.16%, below the target of 20.83%. The Return of
<br /> Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) rate for August was 4.8% (year-to-date 7.3%). The
<br /> EMS Branch conducted 1,927 transports in August. Four new paramedics
<br /> completed their training, and five more began the program during the month. EMS
<br />
|