HomeMy WebLinkAbout04 FIRE CHIEFS REPORT FY21-22 OCTOBERHawai’i Fire Department
kazuo.todd@hawaiicounty.gov 808-932-2900
25 Aupuni St, Hilo, HI, 96720
FIRE CHIEFS REPORT
YOU CAN’T
MANAGE WHAT
YOU DON’T
MEASURE
Peter Drucker
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TO THE FIRE COMMISSION ______________________________________ 3
Let’s Talk Budget _________________________________________________________ 3
Highlights _______________________________________________________________ 4
Community Outreach ______________________________________________________ 4
BUDGET ______________________________________________________ 5
FY 2021-2022 ___________________________________________________________ 5
Alternative Funding and Grants ______________________________________________ 5
HUMAN RESOURCES ___________________________________________ 6
Internal Recruitment within Department: _______________________________________ 6
Internal Recruitment within the County: ________________________________________ 6
Open-Competitive Recruitment: _____________________________________________ 6
Classification: ____________________________________________________________ 6
Labor Relations: __________________________________________________________ 6
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS DIVISION _____________________________ 7
Battalion 1, East Hawai i ___________________________________________________ 7
Battalion 2 West Hawai i ___________________________________________________ 8
Special Operations: _______________________________________________________ 9
SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION __________________________________ 10
Emergency Medical Services Bureau: ________________________________________ 10
Training Bureau: _________________________________________________________ 10
Volunteer Training: _______________________________________________________ 11
Fire Prevention Bureau: ___________________________________________________ 11
Fire Auxiliary Services: ___________________________________________________ 11
Maintenance Shop: ______________________________________________________ 11
Capital Improvement Projects: ______________________________________________ 12
A BIG RETURN ________________________________________________ 13
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TO THE FIRE COMMISSION
Let’s Talk Budget
This month we focus on the budget. This is
partially because the department’s plan for next
fiscal year is due, and partially because this has
been one of this administration’s focuses to
improve. Our administration has spent the last
two months intensively scrutinizing our
historical budget and working on future budget
planning. Last week after a meeting, where we
proposed a new line item organizational alignment, Finance Director Deanna Sako gave us
the tentative go ahead to realign our budget with current program areas. This realignment
doesn’t increase the budget, but rather, distributes the budget into a more program-centric
breakdown, and allows program managers to have control over their annual budgets. This
also allows those managers to have a seat at the table in developing out-year budgets. In the
long view it will allow for the budgetary process to be transparent throughout the department,
and allow for better reporting to the public. Ultimately we are seeking to better measure our
outcomes with their costs, and improve performance. Additionally, we are seeking to change
the way we capture overtime expenses to better account for spending within the department.
These initial budgetary changes will allow us to lay the foundation to better define our mission
goals and justify our expenditures. We as a department need to be able to explain why we
cost the money that we do, and what the public gains for that expenditure of the public tax
dollars. In the next few years to better serve the public we will focus on a Community Risk
Assessment and the development of a Standards of Cover known as a CRA/SOC.
Realistically, we expect this will take approximately two years to be completed. These
initiatives and others will take the Hawaii Fire Department down the path of measuring our
outcomes, defining success, and proving the value of our department.
It is the intent of the Fire Chief to have a
comprehensive line item budget that clearly
establishes a relationship between the line item and
the program it is supporting. This will alleviate
robbing Peter to pay Paul and allow the
administration to better defend any proposed
decrements. These new line items will also be tied in
with the mitigation plan for the Community Risk
Assessment and the goal of attaining Accreditation. Finally, the line item budget will allow for
scheduling budgetary increases due to inflation and changing requirements.
This is a very broad stroke on the initiative to reorganize the Department around measuring
outcomes. Almost every aspect within the Department is tied back to the budget and
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available resources. The proper handling of the capital the public entrusts to the
governmental agencies of the County requires that we are good stewards of those resources
and utilize them effectively and efficiently. We look forward to make substantial changes
within the next few years to resolve long standing issues with the budget management,
allocations, and justifications.
Highlights
The following are the highlights from October 2021. The complete list of responses will be
provided in the Emergency Operations Division Update.
October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Fire Department
is an ardent supporter of the initiative and participated in several
awareness and fund raising events.
The Fire Department supported the FAA with a crash site that was
discovered on the slopes of Mauna Loa. The Fire Department was
able to get the tail number of the aircraft, which revealed that the aircraft crashed in
1969.
On 25 October, Lizzy Stabo returned from the Straub Medical Center Burn Unit for the
burns she suffered combatting the brush fire at Honuapo. Lizzy faces several months
of rehabilitation and is being treated in Kona.
Community Outreach
H weo Award – Chuck Segawa for COVID defogger
program
Meeting with the Mayor: Streamlining Building Permits
Visited Lizzy Stabo at Straub Burn Center in Oahu
Met with various Council Members for initiative
updates
Civil Defense Tsunami Operations
Kamehameha School for Methane Pile
Meeting with the County Auditor
Ground Breaking of the
new Dispatch Center
Heroes and Helpers Meeting
Farewell Luncheon for Doug, Station 18A
Rule Making Meeting for Halloween
Street LG Roll Out
HR Training
Welcome Lizzy Stabo Home
Budget Restructuring
Critical Incident Stress Management Meeting
Wet season outlook briefing.
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BUDGET
FY 2021-2022
FY 2021-2022 - County Budget:
Total spending through September 30th is at 40.47% with 33% of the fiscal year
completed.
Salaries and Wages
Closed at 40.91% Fire and 36.75% EMS.
OCE expenditures closed at 40.21% in Fire, and 31.81% in EMS.
State Funded Budget Items:
EMS reimbursements for FY 20-21 have been completed. Authorization for this year’s
reimbursements have not been given, but paperwork is being completed.
Alternative Funding and Grants
SAFER Grant – Grant submitted for six (6) Captain Positions and three (3) FF
positions has been approved and has passed acceptance with County Council.
National Forest Service Grant (50/50 matching for $50,000).
Submitted for reimbursement for FY 19-20 (Pending).
Submitted for reimbursement for FY 20-21 (Pending).
Working on application for FY 21-22 (approved and being expended).
o An additional $147k has been granted for FY 21-22
o We will be pursuing the purchase of a brush truck and fire shelters
FEMA AFG for Covid-19 – grant period extended another year. No Updates.
FEMA AFG for 2022 has opened, we will be submitting for extractors for all of our fire
stations.
Grant from State of Hawai’i, Department of Health, Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Division. Training has started.
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HUMAN RESOURCES
Internal Recruitment within Department:
Battalion Chief (Auxiliary Services) – Fire/Emergency Medical Services Specialist III
Vern Hara promoted effective November 1, 2021.
Battalion Chief (Prevention Bureau) – Fire Captain Palani Kurashige promoted effective
November 1, 2021.
Fire Captain (Emergency Operations) – 14 candidates passed the assessment center.
Fire Equipment Operator – 21 candidates passed the written exam. Pending
interview/assessment center.
Fire Prevention Inspector II – Fire Prevention Inspector I Royd Henderson and Fire
Prevention Inspector I Edward Kawasaki promoted effective November 1, 2021.
Fire Prevention Inspector I – Fire Fighter Tyson Goo, Fire Fighter Anthony Kim and Fire
Fighter Donovan Roque promoted effective November 1, 2021.
Fire Rescue Specialist – 16 candidates referred to participate in the Physical
Assessment Exercise. PAE to be announced.
Accountant I – Accountant I (Temp) Pennylou Andrade promoted to Accountant I
effective November 1, 2021.
Internal Recruitment within the County:
Account Clerk – One applicant referred. Candidate no longer expressed interest in
position. Recruitment closed.
Open-Competitive Recruitment:
Fire Fighter Recruit – 16 FFR candidates scheduled for medical appointments, hearing
exam, and back x-ray. Targeted hire date is February 1, 2022.
Account Clerk – Three applicants referred. Candidates no longer expressed interest in
position. Recruitment closed.
Classification:
Allocation of Information Systems Analyst IV effective November 1, 2021.
Transfer of three Fire Fighter positions from Central Fire Station to Haihai Fire Station
effective November 1, 2021.
One Water Safety Officer I (1/2T) reinstated to Water Safety Officer II (1/2T) effective
November 16, 2021.
Labor Relations:
Verbal Reprimand – Four verbal reprimands for noncompliance with COVID-19 testing
requirements.
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EMERGENCY OPERATIONS DIVISION
Total Calls for CY 2021
Type September YTD
Fire 96 788
Rescue and EMS 1,720 14,554
Hazardous Cond. (no fire) 19 169
Service Call 188 1,568
Good Intent calls 374 2,867
Fire Alarm / False calls 34 247
Severe Weather 0 11
Special Incident Type 0 4
Other 7 8
Totals 2,452 17,779
Updates:
PGV fund SCBA compressor procurement: no changes, awaiting community meeting
with Councilmember Kierkiewicz.
Bid awarded for internal SCBA compressor purchase. Timeline for delivery is
anticipated in Jan-Feb 2022.
Planning for a Post Incident Analysis for the Mana Rd Brush Fire. Ongoing planning
and scheduling, looking for a late November or early December date.
CDBG-MIT grant funding update: Received tentative confirmation that all of our
requests were approved. This would include Brush Trucks, Command Vehicle, Mobile
support maintenance trailer, and additional funds for mitigation infrastructure in high
risk districts.
Central FS relocation: Chief Todd met with the Matsuura family for a potential site on
the Mauka side of Komohana St. between Ponahawai St. and Huali Pl. near Alenaeo
Stream.
Apparatus updates
a) Rosenbauer build (BT-17), Status Quo: Airbag issue resolved, scheduled to enter
Body repair shop on Monday Nov. 1
Ongoing mitigation planning for Honuapo Brush Fire scene. Working with DPW to
install fencing. Experienced some challenges and delays with funding source.
Tsunami response Plan revision meetings help with CD. Identifying evacuation needs
for HFD sites (Maint. Shop, Waiakea, and Central)
HFD assisted the FAA with identifying an aircraft at a crash site that was reported to be
located on the South Western flank of Mauna Loa. C-1 able to get images and identify
the aircraft. Ended up being a recorded crash from the 1960’s.
Battalion 1, East Hawai i
Incidents:
October 6, 2021, Inc #20667, Fire: 11-1831 Alapua St/District 5 Eden Roc, Structure
fire (unpermitted). No injuries or fatalities.
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October 7, 2021, Inc #20784, Fire: 24MM Kaimu
Chain of Craters Rd/District 10 Kalapana Gardens,
Structure fire, No injuries or fatalities.
October 10, 2021, Inc #21026, Rescue: Mauna Loa
Access Rd/District 4 Kaumana, Lost Hiker. 1 male
party lost due to darkness in no other distress.
Co50, Co02, & BC1 responded. Co50 personnel
able to locate party and assist back to vehicle. No
injuries or fatalities.
October 11, 2021, Inc
#21108, Fire: 11-1803 Pilo
Street/District 5 Eden Roc,
Structure fire (unpermitted).
No injuries or fatalities.
October 14, 2021, Inc
#21331, Fire: 29 Pohai
St/District 3, Propane fire, 2 injured.
October 18, 2021, Inc #21641, Fire: Lava Tree State
Park/District 10, Storage shed fire. No injuries or fatalities.
October 22, 2021, Inc #21703, Risk Assessment:
Kamehameha Schools-Keaau/District 5, steam and smoke
emanating from the ground in multiple locations. No injuries or
fatalities.
Battalion 2 West Hawai i
Incidents:
October 4, 2021, Inc#020548; Rescue: Missing Diver- Kiholo Bay. Party found on
shore, no injuries or fatalities.
October 14, 2021, Inc# 021347; Hazmat: Chlorine spill, King Kamehameha Hotel, Dist
7. Hotel evacuated, ventilated, Chlorine Monitoring. No injuries.
October 30, 2021, Inc# 022525; Rescue: Lost Hikers, Honaunau Bay, Dist. 6, Elderly
couple located and extricated by C2, no injuries.
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Special Operations:
Hazmat:
Hazmat Chemical identifier (Makalei) sent in for repair.
Confined Space Training completed.
Continuing to work on CAMEO training opportunity for Hazmat personnel.
Ocean Safety:
Street LG program for Ocean Safety incident reporting will be commencing shortly.
Train the Trainer sessions completed, personnel now being trained and familiarizing
with the program. On track for a December 1 “go live date”.
Survey 123 App for Ocean Safety Beach Logs have gone live. Data now being
captured electronically.
AC Okinaka, and Ocean Safety Captain’s
attended a meeting with the National
Weather Service regarding more accurate
reporting of high surf conditions.
RWC procurement status: Both SKI’s have
been received and placed in service.
Planning for RWC Operator Training for
Water Safety Officers. Working with USLA
for program development and certification.
Working to get a used surplus trailer for
Punalu u Beach office space.
Rescue:
Company 2 assisted with a couple of animal special service calls.
a) 10/10/21 Kitten stuck on top of a fence. FRS Kevin Kapsky
climbed up and rescued it. See images
b) 10/22/21 Calf fell off the cliff in Pepeekeo. Set up hoisting
rigging and successfully rescued the calf which was
uninjured. See images
Rescue Boat 2 (Force) engine replacement. Received quote,
working on requisition.
Confined Space Training completed
Sayer Foundation:
Funding of additional Apparatus.
a) Discussions ongoing for a new Engine at South Kohala. Building out specifications
for the apparatus. Pierce Mfg. chosen for the build by the donor.
b) Additional Wildland Tanker apparatus expected delivery second week of
November.
Awaiting availability of another Power Watercraft. Funds received from County of
Hawaii non-profit grant. For the purchase of another Rescue Watercraft.
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SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION
Emergency Medical Services Bureau:
The EMS Bureau is very proud of Capt. Hara who will be promoted to the rank of
Battalion Chief. Chief Hara will be our new FASO and I am very confident that he will
do an excellent job in his new position. The EMS Bureau will be conducting an FMS III
assessment center in November to fill his FMS III position.
We have completed our first full month of using ESO which is our new patient care
reporting system. We have had some challenges and are currently working with our IT
and the ESO support team to get these issues resolved.
Capt. Domingo and her team with Project KOKO have been working very hard with
multiple projects throughout Hawaii Island to improve out of hospital cardiac arrest
survival rates. One of her projects has led to international recognition of Jadelyn
Villegas of Keaau High School at the upcoming Citizens CPR Foundation Cardiac
Arrest Survival Summit in San Diego. Jadelyn’s hands only CPR and AED video that
she produced was outstanding. This resuscitation conference that Jadelyn will be
recognized at attracts some of the top educators in pre hospital cardiac arrest
resuscitation science and programs.
We have completed our pre construction meeting with Braun NW Ambulance. This
ambulance is projected to be completed around June of 2022 and will be assigned to
the N. Kohala Fire Station.
We have 6 personnel that have completed the Kapiolani Community College
paramedic program. They are currently working on their NREMT knowledge and
psychomotor exams. We are very proud of these recent graduates and wish them luck
with their national certification assessments.
Training Bureau:
The 50th Fire Fighter Recruit Class continues progress towards completion of basic fire
fighter training. All recruits have passed their Pro-Board Firefighter I and II, and
HAZMAT awareness cognitive and psychomotor evaluations.
BC Springer and Captain Lono Lindsey attended a Live Fire Training Camp at the Fire
Department Training Network in Indianapolis. The course was three (3) days, with
four-hour modules under live fire conditions, which included: hoarder fires, basement
fires, forcible entry, search, rapid intervention, and firefighter survival.
Confined Space Rescue training was held over three (3) weeks for all designated
Rescue and HAZMAT company personnel. The instructors and course materials were
provided by the IAFF. The training brings our department into compliance with OSHA
requirements for making rescues of victims in confined spaces.
Three (3) propane emergency training sessions were held, hosted by Hawaii Gas at
Hilo and Kona ARFF. The training included classroom lectures and live propane fire
suppression evolutions.
Budget preparations for fiscal year 2022-23 have been submitted.
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Volunteer Training:
All Volunteer companies given a class on Fire Dynamics, followed by a hands-on drill.
Researched and submitted recommendations to Chief Todd regarding Fire Shelter
project.
Captain Heidenfeldt and Captain Wilson participated in a Propane Emergencies class
at Hilo Airport; Captain Wilson completed required ACLS/PALS recertification and
Hazmat Technician refresher, and participated in multiple promotion assessment
panels.
Completed preliminary volunteer division budget for fiscal year 2021-2022.
Completed preliminary volunteer drill schedule for calendar year 2022.
Fire Prevention Bureau:
The Fire Prevention Bureau celebrated the annual Fire Prevention Week during the
week of October 3, 2021. Fire Safety Guides were distributed to elementary school
children in the Kindergarten to 6th grade. The theme was “Learn the Sounds of Fire
Safety.” Radio Ads and the Hawai‘i Fire Department’s Instagram and Facebook pages
educated the public about fire safety.
The County’s new electronic plan review system continues to be a challenge. The
county is actively working on addressing these challenges, however. Fire Inspectors
Henderson and Kawasaki have done a good job in keeping the plan review counts low.
The Hawaii County fire code amendments are close to being presented to the County
Council for approval and adoption.
The Fire Prevention Bureau investigated two (2) structure fires in Pahoa district. One
fire had an undetermined cause. The cause of the other fire was incendiary.
Fire Auxiliary Services:
CPT Hara and CPT Domingo continued to support in the FASO position.
Interviews took place and a FASO was selected. CPT Hara will begin his new role as
FASO on Nov 1, 2021.
With continued shortages in dispatch, multiple schedules were submitted for review. In
November, there will be partial shifts that personnel will be dropped to two.
Funding source has been identified to extend covering for the mechanics workspace.
After identifying that the inventory system (Trade Gecko) will be “sun-setting”, we are
brainstorming alternatives for a replacement program.
Maintenance Shop:
Apparatus and equipment repair
Seventy-three (73) total repairs/service.
Twenty-two (22) service calls or trouble calls.
Six (6) contracted out and tows.
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Capital Improvement Projects:
Hawai‘i County Emergency Communications Center
o Ground Preparation has commenced on this project
Waiakea Fire Station Electrical Upgrade
o Engineering Partners Inc (EPI) is the engineering firm.
o HELCO application for service upgrade submitted on June 28, 2021.
P hala Fire Station
o Engineering Partners is the architect/engineer.
o Contract and funding approved. Awaiting schedule by consultant.
Hawaiian Paradise Park Fire Station Dormitory Addition
o Department of Public Works (DPW) is the lead. EPI is the supporting the
engineering firm for mechanical and electrical.
o In receipt of civil and plumbing proposal. According to the Purchasing Division,
we have to go thru procurement again for the civil engineering portion.
Central Fire Station Rehabilitation Project
o Scott Fleming is the Architect.
o The design contract has been approved and funding for the design phase has been
allotted.
Kailua Fire Station
o Will be purchasing a new generator through emergency procurement.
o Civil Defense will loan us a generator. DPW to install temporary transfer switch.
Waikoloa Fire Station/ Civil Defense Antenna
o DPW is the architect/engineer.
o The design is complete. Drawings are in the pre-final stage and being reviewed by
project coordinator.
Kaumana Fire Station Plumbing Improvements
o Inaba Engineering is the engineering firm
o Design contract approved and we are waiting on the schedule for the design
phase.
Kaumana Fire Station Improvements
o Scott Fleming is the Architect.
o The contract has been awarded.
o Awaiting funding.
Waiakea Fire Station Improvement
o Scott Fleming is the Architect.
o The contract has been awarded and we are waiting for funding for the design
phase.
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A BIG RETURN
On 25 October, 2021, Lizzy Stabo
returned to the Big Island from the
Burn Unit at Straub Medical Center
on Oahu. A hero’s welcome was
waiting for Lizzy when we she
arrived back on the Big Island.
Lizzy has spent the last 3 months at
the Straub Medical Center
undergoing medical treatment for
burns she suffered combating a
wildland fire at Honuapo. The
treatments are grueling and quite painful, but absolutely necessary for the restoration of the
areas that were burned. Where the most difficult portion of this recovery is behind her, it is by
no means over. Lizzy faces many months of recuperation which includes both physical and
mental treatment.
Lizzy is a really special person who has shown incredible strength and a positive attitude
during her recovery. The staff at the Straub Medical Center Bure Unit gathered to give Lizzy
a sendoff on her return trip to the Big Island. Once on the Hawaiian Flight to Kona, the Pilot
announced that they were transporting a special guest to the Big Island. The plane was met
in Kona with a Water Lei saluting her return.
Numerous Firefighters were
standing by at the airport to
welcome her home and provide
flower lei’s. A Fire Department
escort of numerous vehicles
accompanied Lizzy to where she
will be staying in Kona while she
continues her healing process.
We continue to send our prayers
and well wishes to Lizzy while she
completes her rehabilitation. We
ask everyone to keep her in your
thoughts.
End of Report