HomeMy WebLinkAbout11 FIRE CHIEFS REPORT FY20-21 MAYFIRE CHIEF’S REPORT
JUNE 9, 2021
I. BUDGET
1) FY 2020/2021 - County Budget:
a) We are 11 months into our fiscal year budget cycle and our
spending continues to be on track but tight in the OCE portion of
the budget. Total current spending through May 31st is at 84.12%
with 91.78% of the fiscal year completed.
b) Salaries and Wages sit at 85.46% Fire and 87.39% EMS; however,
we may see changes here as funding is shifted back to cover Cares
Funding per the fiscal department. At the moment, we seem to be
in a good position.
c) OCE purchases have been halted except for critical needs. Current
Expenditures as of May 31st sit at 95.67% in Fire, and 95.68 in
EMS.
2) State Funded Budget Items:
a) State funding for lifeguards was cut, however, the County of Hawaii
is currently looking at using 3.6 million from the American Rescue
Plan to offset some of this funding shortfall.
b) EMS reimbursements for FY19/20 submitted and received for 6.5
million closing out FY19/20 financials.
c) EMS reimbursements for FY 20/21 Q1, Q2, submitted.
Reimbursement for July and August have been received for 2.9
million. September through January need to be recalculated.
Remainder of the year is in progress and should be submitted by
July 31st.
3) FY 2021/2022 – County Budget:
a) County Council added a total of $335,000 to the Hawaii Fire
Department Budget.
a. $75,000 to 5221.02.115 Misc Contract Services
i. Laundry and bulldozers;
b. $50,000 to 5221.10.457 Fire Station Equip
i. Extrication equipment, fire equipment;
c. $160,000 to 5221.10.480 Fire Protection Eqpt. Misc
i. For an air compressor;
d. $50,000 to 5225.02.228 Equip Maint Oce, M.V./Hvy Eqpt.
i. For the mechanics budget for parts.
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II. ALTERNATIVE FUNDING AND GRANTS
1) SAFER Grant – Grant submitted for six (6) Captain Positions and three (3)
FF positions. No updates.
2) National Forest Service Grant (50/50 matching for $50,000)
a) Submitted for reimbursement for FY18/19
b) Submitted for reimbursement for FY19/20
c) Submitted for reimbursement for FY20/21
d) Working on application for FY 21/22
3) FEMA AFG for Covid-19 – grant period extended another year.
4) FEMA AFG for 2021 has been completed and submitted we have
submitted for extractors for all of our fire stations. No updates.
5) Grant from State of Hawai’i, Department of Health Alcohol and Drug
Abuse Division. Stacy Domingo is starting the process of arranging
training.
III. HUMAN RESOURCES
Recruitment
1. Internal Recruitment within Department:
a) Fire Captain (Emergency Operations) – 15 candidates passed the
written exam. Pending interview/assessment center.
b) Fire Equipment Operator – 21 candidates passed the written exam.
Pending interview/assessment center.
c) Fire Prevention Inspector I – Pending scheduling of
interview/assessment center.
d) Fire Rescue Specialist – Internal recruitment will open on June 6
and close on June 15.
e) Fire/Hazardous Materials Specialist – Pending scheduling of
interview/assessment center.
f) Human Resources Technician I – One applicant. Selected Laura
Casey effective May 1, 2021.
2. Open-Competitive Recruitment:
a) Accountant IV – Seven (7) applicants. Selected Nikol Lonokapu
effective May 17, 2021.
b) Deputy Fire Chief – Recruitment opened on May 23, 2021 and
closed on June 1, 2021. Received 20 applications.
c) Fire Fighter Recruit - FFR interviews for 54 candidates scheduled
for June 1-10, 2021. Accuplacer scheduled for June 7. Interviews
have been started.
d) Fire Radio Dispatcher I – 30 applicants. Realistic Job Preview
Orientation scheduled for June 10, 2021. Practical assessment
scheduled for June 28-30, 2021.
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e) Water Safety Officer I (Temp) – Hired four (4) summer hires
effective May 17, 2021.
3. Classification:
a) Extension of temporary reallocation Water Safety Officer II (1/2T)
to Water Safety Officer I (1/2T) effective May 16, 2021.
b) One (1) Water Safety Officer I (1/2T) reinstated to Water Safety
Officer II (1/2T) effective May 16, 2021.
c) Three (3) Water Safety Officer II (1/2T) positions temporarily
reallocated to Water Safety Officer I (1/2T) effective June 1, 2021.
d) One (1) Water Safety Officer I reinstated to Water Safety Officer
II effective June 1, 2021.
e) Temporary position OX-03815 Water Safety Officer I effective
June 1, 2021.
f) Three (3) Fire Radio Dispatcher II positions temporarily
reallocated to Fire Radio Dispatcher I effective June 1, 2021.
g) Reallocation of Prevention Bureau positions are still in process.
4. Labor Relations:
a) Suspension – Hand delivered letter to Fire Equipment Operator.
IV. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS DIVISION
Total calls for 2021:
Type May YTD
Fire 93 374
Rescue and EMS 1,633 7,651
Hazardous Cond. (no fire) 13 91
Service Call 162 818
Good Intent calls 295 1,516
Fire Alarm / False calls 32 130
Severe Weather 1 2
Totals 2,232 10,593
BATTALION 1, East Hawai i
1. Apparatus updates:
a) Rosenbauer build (BT-17), anticipated completion end of May. Final
inspection (update) via video teleconference, scheduled for June 4.
Incidents
1. May 8, Inc# 008878; FIRE: Structure Fire - Haunani Road, Volcano/District
19; no injuries or fatalities.
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2. May 13, Inc# 009227; FIRE: Structure Fire - 16-1784 37th Avenue/District
18; no injuries or fatalities.
3. May 17, Inc# 009546; FIRE: Brush Fire - Green Sands Beach, District 11,
approximately 5 acres, no structures threatened; no injuries or fatalities.
4. May 22, Inc# 009904; FIRE: Brush Fire - Mauna Kea, District 4,
approximately 1,600 sq. ft., DLNR land, HFD resources not needed. C-1
assisted with water bucket drops on 5/23; no injuries or fatalities.
5. May 23, Inc# 009971; RESCUE: Kayaker in Distress - Waipio Valley, District
8. Multiple dropped 911 calls. C-1 & C-2 located kayaker who was able to
make it to shore without assistance; no injuries or fatalities.
6. May 30, Inc# 010493; FIRE: Brush Fire - Waimanu Valley, District 8,
approximately 6,400 sq. ft., area smoldering. Hand crews flown in to
extinguish and overhaul until DOFAW resources arrived. C-1 & C-2 assisted
with water bucket drops.
Training
1. May 19, County of Hawaii Procurement Training, Aupuni Center.
2. New Electrostatic Sprayers training rollout.
Special Services/Events
1. Nothing to report.
BATTALION 2 West Hawai i
Incidents
1. May 1, Inc# 08423; RESCUE: Sunken Sailboat – Search for swimmers in
distress. C-1 dispatched to work with USCG for a sailboat that sunk, search
for any swimmers in distress, negative findings.
2. May 2, Inc# 08474, FIRE: Vehicle Fire - Semi–9,000 gal. Fuel Truck Fire,
District 21. Units dispatched for fuel truck on fire spreading to brush. Fire
extinguished, fuel truck intact.
3. May 10, Inc# 09070; RESCUE: Missing Kayaker – Kailua Pier, District 7.
Co.7 & C-2 commenced shoreline search for missing kayaker. Party found
alive floating 100-yards offshore at night, brought in by boat, and transported
to KCH ER.
4. May 29, Inc# 10464; FIRE: Structure Fire – HOVE, District 20, 10X10
external structure fully engulfed and main house (800 sq. ft.), 15%
involvement. House fire extinguished and saved 80% of main structure.
Inspectors responded for possible arson investigation. Owners on the
mainland called Station 20 with much gratitude.
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5. May 30, Inc# 10505; FIRE: Brush Fire – Ka‘upulehu (Nanea Golf Course),
District 14. Brush Fire above Nanea Golf Course. Fire started by possible
arcing power lines. Fire stopped by first in responding Co.14 and tankers.
Training and Education
1. Department-wide training for new Electrostatic Santitizing Sprayers.
Special Services/Events
1. May 1, Blessing and Gifting Ceremony by the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial
Foundation for new Big Dog Wildland Tanker Apparatus at Station14.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS
HazMat
1. Confined Space Training for all HAZMAT personnel.
2. Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) quarterly meeting attended by
AC Okinaka.
Ocean Safety
1. iPads: Began distribution to Ocean Safety Captains to begin familiarization.
2. Water Safety Officer I (WSO I) recruitment: Summer hires started May 17.
Four (4) positions in East Hawaii filled. Basic training completed and began
staffing beaches.
3. Street LG program for Ocean Safety incident reporting: Awaiting Train-the-
Trainer training sessions.
4. RWC procurement status: Still awaiting the delivery of the County purchased
SKIs. There was some delays in the build process. Possibly late June and
August respectively for their delivery.
5. Preparing for RWC Operator training. Once new SKIs arrive, we plan on
proceeding with the training.
Rescue
1. Discussions continuing for replacement of our Rescue boats. The Sayre
Foundation has showed an interes in assisting with the purchase of a new
vessel.
2. Working on planning for Dive Rescue recertification for Rescue Personnel.
3. Continue to work on planning for Confined Space Training for Rescue
Personnel.
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Sayre Foundation
1. Big Dog Tanker: Blessing and Gifting Ceremony held on May 1.
2. The BME Tanker: Tanker received and has completed registration and
inventory documentation. Familiarization training scheduled for June 15-17.
Will be assigned to North Kohala.
3. Non-profit grant for replacement RWC: We continue to search for an available
unit to purchase. Supply for Power Watercrafts are very low.
V. SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION
Emergency Medical Services Bureau
1. Seven (7) of our paramedic students went to Honolulu to rotate through
Kapi‘olani Medical Center and The Queens Medical Center. These rotations
were part of their advanced life support pediatric and trauma care training.
2. The 47th Annual National Emergency Medical Services Week was recognized
May 16, 2021 thru May 22, 2021. The 2021 EMS Week theme was, “This is
EMS: Caring for our Communities.”
3. We are currently working with the State Dept. of Health on rolling out ESO
Solutions. This is a new electronic patient care report program that will be
utilized statewide by all 911 EMS providers.
4. Captain Domingo has conducted multiple hands-only CPR classes island-wide.
These classes have been a collaborative effort with Hilo Medical Center and the
Hilo Medical Center Foundation. This program has also led to an increase of
automated external defibrillators in our community. Two of the most recent
communities to receive a free AED were Miloli‘i and H w .
5. The EMS budget modification #4 has been reviewed and accepted by the County
Council.
6. The EMS Bureau will be participating in a COVID mitigation team called Cluster
Busters. This is a multi-agency team that will be used to help control the spread
of COVID here on Hawaii Island.
Training Bureau
1. Fifteen (15) personnel attended joint training at P hakuloa on firefighter survival
and downed firefighter rescue. Six (6) HFD personnel also assisted as
instructors.
2. Eleven (11) personnel attended “live burn” fire behavior training at P hakuloa.
Three (3) HFD personnel assisted as instructors.
3. Interviews conclude on June 10th to hire eighteen (18) firefighter recruits. Recruit
class training officers, and assistant trainers have been selected.
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4. Conducted Chopper-1 rescue training for new pilot and Water Safety Officers at
Pohoiki and Punalu’u.
5. Expecting receipt of trial nozzles, appliances, and down firefighter rescue
equipment for research and development.
Volunteer Training
1. All Volunteer companies given a class on Incident Command System basics,
followed by a hands-on drill.
2. Companies 9A Waiki’i Ranch, 9B Kanehoa, 7B Kalaoa, 14A Kohala Ranch
received safety training on unexploded ordinance in the Waik loa area.
3. We have five (5) potential new volunteers at various companies in different
stages of the application process.
4. One (1) volunteer at Station 8A, Pa‘auilo successfully passed his driver audit and
is now driver certified.
Fire Prevention Bureau
1. Fire Prevention Bureau has started preparation for the 4th of July events. This
would include inspection of all stores planning on selling fireworks and review of
all proposed fireworks shows planned on the 4th. This is to assure code
compliance for our community’s safety.
2. The Fire Prevention Bureau continued the 24-hour schedule and saw many
benefits. One of these benefits has been the ability to fill vacancies, due to
vacation or sick leave, with Prevention and T/A staff.
3. The Bureau is preparing for the electronic plan review implementation by the
Building Department. This will include having the technical equipment and
programs as well as training on the use of the new system. This will greatly help
the efficiency of the plan review process.
4. As our community begins to re-open the Prevention Bureau has shifted our
attention to maintenance inspections. This is to assure businesses are safe to
start servicing the public. This would include all fire protection equipment
serviced and in a ready state.
5. The Fire Prevention Bureau investigated two (2) fires.
Maintenance Shop
1. Apparatus and equipment repair:
Eighty-four (84) total repairs/service.
Twenty-five (25) service calls and trouble calls.
Eight (8) contracted out and tows.
2. Received new Gator for Ocean Safety.
3. Received new Tanker from BME for Station 15.
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Fire Communications Control Center (FCCC)
1. Fire Radio Dispatcher I (FRD I) Allison Ford began TA assignment to FRD II.
Scheduled TA assignment for next two (2) months pending anniversary date and
promotion to FRD II permanent status.
2. Fire Radio Dispatcher I (FRD I) recruitment process. Qualified candidate list
received. Interest confirmed by 28 of the 30 qualified candidates. Next step
scheduling of Realistic Job Preview. This allows candidates to attend an
orientation conducted by dispatch personnel. Information is shared to provide
applicants with a preview of the position responsibilities.
3. E9-1-1 Board facilitated Hawaii training course with the Association of Public
Safety Communications Officials (APCO). Course is an introductory dispatcher
course that is being tested out by personnel from dispatch centers statewide.
We have one (1) personnel participating. Based on feedback the course could
be implemented statewide for all new hires.
4. Fire Communications Supervisor attended Procurement training.
5. Network calling features upgrade completed to Intrado call handling platform.
Change for 10-digit dialing on local calls. Change becomes mandatory October
2021.
6. National Emergency Number Association (NENA) Membership account
activation for all dispatch personnel. The association is focused on 9-1-1 policy,
technology, operations, and education issues.
7. Fire Communications Supervisor met with representatives from Winbourne
Consulting. Consulting firm hired by the E9-1-1 Board to assist in transition to
NG9-1-1.
Fire Auxiliary Services
1. Warehouse sent out $14,289.05 worth of personal protective equipment and
station supplies for a total of 722 items in the month of May. Total this fiscal year
is $174,240.57 and 8,259 items not including the $138, 275.00 spent on Bunker
gear. These totals do not include EMS supplies or their costs.
2. All non-essential purchases are still on hold.
Repairs/Purchases/Maintenance
1. STN 2 Kitchen AC broken. Repair authorized.
2. STN 16 AC unit broken in dorm.
3. STN 12 Oven replaced.
4. STN 21 Septic system pump need repair, cover needs replacement.
5. STN 2 requesting bed replacements.
6. STN11 requesting 2 bed frame replacements.
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VI. New Projects/Business
Chief’s Briefing / Discussion
1. Transitioning Fire Commission meeting to Council Chambers:
a. Missed Granicus meeting due to Pa‘auilo Brushfire;
b. Alternative would be Logitech rally systems at all Hawai‘i County
conference rooms.
2. EMS Downgrade/Paramedic Shortage:
a. Pro-pay being reviewed by HR, other documents sitting on Chief’s Desk
for final review.
3. Upcoming promotions/hiring:
a. Fire Commissioners are welcome to visit.
4. F2 Selection Process:
a. Interviews are set for the 15th.
5. CIP section in report. (next month)
6. Volunteer Fire section in report. (next month)