HomeMy WebLinkAbout10 FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT FY 23-24 APRIL
2024 | APRIL FISCAL YEAR 23-24
FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT
Hawai’i Fire Department
25 Aupuni St., Suite 2501
Hilo, Hawai’i 96720
fire@hawaiicounty.gov
Counting Our Blessings ............................................................................................ 2
Admin Div: Fiscal Branch Report ................................................................................. 3
Program Budget Goals ....................................................................................... 3
Admin Div: HR Branch Report ..................................................................................... 4
Program Budget Goals ....................................................................................... 4
Internal Recruitment within Department ................................................................ 4
Open-Competitive Recruitment ........................................................................... 4
Operations ............................................................................................................ 5
Emergency Operations .......................................................................................... 5
Emergency Operations Highlights ............................................................................ 6
Battalion 1, East Hawaiʻi ..................................................................................... 6
Battalion 2, West Hawaiʻi ................................................................................... 6
Special Operations ............................................................................................... 6
Support Services ..................................................................................................... 8
Emergency Medical Services Branch ......................................................................... 8
Training Services Branch ....................................................................................... 9
Volunteer Training Section ..................................................................................... 9
Fire Prevention Branch .......................................................................................... 11
Logistics, Emergency Communications, and Vehicle Maintenance Section ....................... 12
Emergency Communications .............................................................................. 12
Information Technology Highlights ...................................................................... 13
Safety Specialist Report ........................................................................................... 13
TABLE OF
CONTENTS:
2024 | APRIL PAGE 2
COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS
Brush Truck Blessing
April marked two significant apparatus
blessing ceremonies for our
department. On April 10th, the Akaka
family led a traditional ceremony to
welcome four brand new brush trucks
to our fleet, thanks to generous donors
and the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial
Foundation. Attended by state and
county officials, as well as
philanthropists Marc and Lynne
Benioff, the ceremony honored the vital
role of these trucks in combating fires,
including the Mana Fire of 2021.
Rescue Boat Blessing
On April 27, 2024, the Kailua Fire
Station was the site of an
important event with the
inauguration of a new rescue
boat named Palekana meaning
"safe and protected" in Hawaiian.
This event, marked by traditional
Hawaiian rituals involving salt
and water, underscored the
community’s unity and
commitment to enhancing safety. The Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation donated the
vessel, which will serve the island's leeward side, improving response capabilities to maritime
emergencies. The boat will operate from the Kailua-Kona Fire Station, providing critical
support to the local fishing and boating communities with its advanced equipment. The
community’s role in funding and support for the boat shows a shared dedication to safety and
effective emergency responses. The new boat is equipped with state-of-the-art technology,
including advanced navigation systems and rescue equipment, ensuring that the crew can
execute high-efficiency operations under various conditions. During the ceremony, Mayor
Mitch Roth conveyed deep appreciation to the Sayre Foundation and all who supported the
project, highlighting the difficulty of funding such crucial equipment through usual budgetary
processes and praising the community's spirit of collaboration that brought the project to
fruition.
Wildfire Safety Symposium
The Hawaiian Electric Wildfire Safety Symposium, held
on April 10-11, 2024, at the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center,
UH Hilo, brought together wildfire safety experts from
various sectors. The symposium focused on reducing
wildfire risks in Hawaii by sharing insights on collective
actions and discussing near-term mitigation
strategies. Key topics included grid and wildfire safety
strategy processes, identifying wildfire risk areas, and the role of climate change in wildfire
risks. Participants also explored lessons learned from industry practices and discussed long-
term strategies for improving safety and resilience. Of note, is the possibility of implementing
a Public Safety Power Shut-off (PSPS) process. The PSPS program identifies areas that may be
prone to wildfire ignitions due to downed powerlines and develop trigger points that would be
utilized to de-energize portions of the grid prior to the probability of powerlines falling and
creating fires.
2024 | APRIL PAGE 3
ADMIN DIV: FISCAL BRANCH REPORT
Program Budget Goals April YTD GOAL
Invoice Settlement within 30 days 94% 94% 90%
Pay-out of CILV’s within 90 days 100% 84% 95%
Records Retention Schedule 0 0% Mid-Year
Transition to Electronic Records 75.0 75% 75% Qtr
Option Years for Contracts 100.0 100% 45-Days
Budget Category Adj
Appropriation
YTD
Expenditures % Used Goal
Fire S&W 36,958,536.00 30,952,135.94 83.75 87.50
6221-6225 OCE 5,825,464.83 5,068,269.92 87.00 83.33
Equipment 2,098,805.38 1,970,344.35 93.88 83.33
Grants & Misc S&W 1,408,679.03 810,038.98 57.50 87.50
6226 OCE 365,325.24 66,850.83 18.30 83.33
Equipment 766,035.63 762,476.99 99.54 83.33
EMS S&W 14,799,686.00 13,380,807.02 90.41 87.50
6227 OCE 2,870,647.77 2,080,748.52 72.48 83.33
Equipment 1,724,417.50 1,657,173.64 96.10 83.33
Ocean Safety S&W 5,273,052.07 3,457,042.04 65.56 87.50
6228 OCE 317,498.83 223,811.95 70.49 83.33
Equipment 397,443.16 341314.06 85.88 83.33
Total Budget 72,805,591.44 60,771,014.24 83.47
Grant Update
2023 CDBG The bid was awarded to Orchid Isle Ford for three (3) Brush Trucks
$625,693. Delivery pending.
CDBG- MIT Wildfire
Mitigation The Planning Department is tasked with acquiring this equipment.
FY 2021 AFG We are procuring items for the Fire Base Station Refresh Project.
The grant is 94% obligated as of 4/30/24 with 4 months remaining.
FY 22 USDA Volunteer
Fire Capacity Project
The bid for one brush truck for volunteer station 20A awarded,
pending delivery.
FY 23 USDA Volunteer
Fire Capacity Project
The bid was awarded to Orchid Isle Ford for two (2) Brush Trucks
$411,097. Delivery pending
Kohanaiki Lifeguard
Tower (Fair Share
funds)
Delivery expected at the end of the year.
Leleiwi Lifeguard
Tower (Fair Share
Funds)
Requisition with specs submitted to Purchasing.
Staffing for Adequate
Fire and Emergency
Response (SAFER)
This grant funds three Fire Captain and six Fire Fighter positions. As
of 4/30/2024, we have expended 88.28% of the grant funds with 9
months remaining. Funding expected to run out in August 2024.
2024 | APRIL PAGE 4
ADMIN DIV: HR BRANCH REPORT
Program Budget Goals April YTD GOAL
Process actions within 15 working days 67 354 100%
Recruitment Actions >30 days 1 23 90%
Promotion Actions >30 days 4 26 90%
Personnel Actions within 30 days, <10% error 43 277 10%
Internal Recruitment within Department
Position Status Report
Battalion Chief
(Emergency
Communications)
Interviews held for two candidates on April 5, 2024.
Fire Captain 16 candidates scheduled for written exam in Hilo and 7 candidates
scheduled for written exam in Kona on April 30, 2024.
Fire Equipment Operator Pending interview/Assessment Center schedule.
Fire/Hazardous
Materials Specialist One candidate passed the written exam.
Water Safety Officer III Interviews held for 10 candidates on April 23-24, 2024.
Water Safety Officer V DHR referred three names. Pending interviews.
Open-Competitive Recruitment
Position Status Report
Fire Communications
Officer I
New recruitment closed on March 31, 2024. Realistic Job Preview
was held on April 26, 2024. Thirteen candidates participated.
Pending scheduling of interviews.
Fire Equipment Mechanic Hired Richard Furtado effective April 3, 2024.
Water Safety Officer I
(Temp)
Conditional offer given to one candidate for summer hire.
Pending pre-employment appointments.
Water Safety Officer I
New open recruitment closed on April 9, 2024. DHR referred 50
names. Letter of interest sent out informing candidates of PAE
scheduled for May 9, 2024.
Fire Fighter Recruit
(Temp)
Nine conditional offers and five alternate conditional offers were
sent out to the candidates. All candidates have accepted the
offer by the April 30, 2024 deadline.
Fire/EMS Recruit (Temp)
Two conditional offers were sent out to the candidates. One
candidate accepted the offer by the April 30, 2024 deadline. The
other candidate declined the offer as he has accepted the Fire
Fighter Recruit conditional offer.
2024 | APRIL PAGE 5
OPERATIONS
Emergency Operations
Total Calls for Calendar Year 2024 April % YTD %
Fire 72 3% 320 3%
Overpressure, Rupture, Explosion- no fire 0 0% 3 0%
Rescue and EMS 1914 74% 7565 74%
Hazardous Cond. (no fire) 13 1% 71 1%
Service Call 154 6% 624 6%
Good Intent calls 377 15% 1472 14%
False Alarm / False calls 45 2% 153 1%
Severe Weather 0 0% 1 0%
Special Incident Type 3 0% 11 0%
Other (not completed yet) 5 0% 5 0%
Totals 2487 100% 10,225 100%
Response Times CY 2024
Statistic April % that meet.… YTD % that meet...
Avg. Turn out time (Fire) 2:31 (80 sec.) 15.49% 2:43 (80 sec.) 13.38%
Avg. Turn out time (EMS) 2:13 (60 sec.) 15.92% 2:15 (60 sec.) 15.98%
Statistic April % that meet 6 min. YTD % that meet 6 min
Avg. Response Time (Fire) 2:31 15.28% 2:42 13.13%
Avg. Response Time (EMS) 2:13 19.08% 2:14 18.98%
Fire Impacts CY 2024
Call Type April YTD
Wildland calls (140, 141, 142, 143) 20 66
Acres burned 17 65
Structure Fires (110 & 111) 6 20
Property and Contents - Loss $288,700.00 $2,853,700.00
Property and Contents - Save $87,500.00 $2,377,600.00
Other fires (all other 100 series) 46 234
Property and Contents - Loss $18,101.00 $1,668,802.00
Property and Contents - Save $5,000.00 $35,100.00
Year 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 (est.)
Total Calls 26,869 25,015 27,398 29,594 30,738 30,720
2024 | APRIL PAGE 6
Emergency Operations Highlights
Battalion 1, East Hawaiʻi
4/15, Inc #24008985; Structure Fire: Kaumana Dr. /Dist. 4, single family structure
with significant damage throughout, which also had a 120gal propane cylinder venting
and on fire. Fire controlled and extinguished with Gas Company called to cap cylinder.
One occupant evacuated prior to arrival and with no injuries.
4/18, Inc#24009185; Structure Fire: Hakalau/Dist. 1, Structure located in a remote
area with limited access due to bridge closures. All exterior walls collapsed prior to
arrival, 911 system down, Aircraft in the area called this incident into the Air Traffic
Control Tower. No injuries or fatalities.
Battalion 2, West Hawaiʻi
4/4, Inc#24008023; Brush Fire: Puako, High winds, ½ acre. No homes damaged.
4/22, Inc#24009563; Brush Fire: 14.5 MM Akoni Pule. 10 X 200ft. No homes or
property damaged.
4/25/2024 Inc#24009799, Brush Fire: 12 MM Akoni Pule, ¼ acre. No homes or
property damaged.
Special Operations
Haz-Mat
CST training for Hazmat companies completed on April 15-19
Planning for Full scale multi-Agency drill exercise with CST in June
Planning also for HazMat sapling training with Dept. of Health for Sept.
Ocean Safety
1 WSO I candidate to be hired on May 16.
Second WSO I PAE was scheduled for May 9, interviews scheduled for May 29-30
WSO III recruitment interviews were completed April 23-24, promotions to take effect
on June 1.
Rescue
Radon scheduled to go into Riddle Marine the week of May 13-17.
New 27’ Hoku Rescue boat for Kailua Fire station blessing conducted on April 27.
Working on transfer of ownership and final equipment calibration.
2024 | APRIL PAGE 7
Incident heat map and YTD stats for April 2024
Link for Station Call Volume Breakdown
2024 | APRIL PAGE 8
SUPPORT SERVICES
Emergency Medical Services Branch
ESO Wave Conference
Captain M. Lam attended the ESO Wave Conference in Austin, TX. At this conference Captain
M. Lam received extensive training on data gathering and report generation. His attendance
at this conference was funded by the State Department of Health.
ALERRT Training
Both EMS Branch and Training Branch personnel assisted HPD with a three-day ALERRT Active
Shooter Training on April 8th – 10th. Approximately 30 personnel from HPD and HFD
participated in this training.
I-Gel Airway Webinars
The EMS Branch facilitated three I-Gel Supraglottic Airway webinars. These optional webinars
provided an opportunity for more education and time for HFD personnel to familiarize
themselves with this new airway device.
State DOH Meeting
The EMS Branch personnel participated in the quarterly State Department of Health
Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee meeting held on April 17th.
FMS II Assessment Center
A Fire Medical Specialist II assessment center was held on April 18th.
Waiakea High School Health Academy
EMS Branch personnel participated as voluntary judges for the Waiakea High School Health
Academy senior project presentations.
2024 | APRIL PAGE 9
Fall 2023 Paramedic Class
The eight personnel in the Fall 2023 paramedic class completed their second rotation of
internship at the end of April. They will begin their third rotation at the beginning of May.
52nd Firefighter Recruit Class
The 52nd firefighter recruit class has completed EMT training and is currently back with the
Training Branch.
Training Services Branch
53rd Recruit Class
53rd Recruit class interviews were conducted on April 1-3, with names referred to Fire HR to
provide conditional offers for employment.
Active Attack Integrated Response (AAIR) Training
The Active Attack Integrated Response (AAIR) training was opened to operations personnel,
designed to improve the safety and survivability of victims of active attack / shooter events
and increase the effectiveness, coordination, and resource integration between law
enforcement, fire, tele-communications, and EMS when responding to these events. Twelve
personnel attended the three-day training held at the old Hamakua Court House and the Hilo
Civic.
52nd Recruit Class Updates
The 52nd Recruit Class completed Fire Ground Survival. Curriculum included Mayday
prevention, preparing for the Mayday, self-survival procedures, self-survival skills, and
expectations of command. Recruits studied near-misses and fatalities to reinforce the learning
of each of the five parts.
The 52nd Recruit Class and HFD Volunteer Firefighters attended Wildland Firefighting Training
at Pohakulo’a April 29th to May 3rd. Lessons included wildland fire behavior, recognition of
potentially hazardous situations, and human performance concepts as part of basic wildland
firefighter training. The week was concluded with a pack exercise consisting of a 45-pound
pack over a distance of 3 miles in 45 mins of less.
Volunteer Training Section
Quarterly Captains’ Meeting
The Volunteer Captains’ meeting was held at Ainaloa on
4/20/24. In attendance were Deputy Chief Moller and
County Councilmember Ashley Kierkiewicz. More volunteer
issues were discussed, and volunteers were recognized for
years of service. Various personnel took their oaths.
2024 | APRIL PAGE 10
Multi-Company Drill
Volunteer Companies 7B-Kalaoa, 8A-Pa’auilo, 9A-Waiki’i, 9B-Kanehoa, 14A-Kohala, and 16B-
Pu’uanahulu participated in a multi-company drill held at Mauna Lani. The exercise was a
simulated large brush fire rapidly approaching a heavily populated area. During this drill, an
emphasis on the Incident Command System (ICS), communications, apparatus placement,
water usage and conservation, wildland urban interface firefighting, and safety was
implemented.
1-A (Pepeekeo)
Company 1A – Pepeekeo Volunteers - responded to two structure fires and participated in both
the Merrie Monarch Parade, and the Boys Scout’s Makahiki Festival.
2024 | APRIL PAGE 11
7-B (Kalaoa)
Volunteer Company 7B-Kalaoa responded to a smoke sighted call out and two rubbish fires.
Their training for the month of April focused on the wildland urban interface.
8-A (Pa’auilo)
Volunteer Company 8A-Pa’auilo responded to a smell of smoke call out and attended a multi
company training in Mauna Lani.
9-B (Kanehoa)
Volunteer Company 9B-Kanehoa focused on wildland firefighting this month with an emphasis
on pump and roll capabilities. Co. 9B also participated in retired HFD Assistant Chief Ralph
Yawata’s Junior Fire Program at Honoka’a High School. Co. 9B brought their Big Dog 9B to
supply water for their hose drills, spoke with students about the volunteer program, and
showed them their apparatus.
19-A (Volcano)
Company 19A – Contributed 75 hours of volunteer time towards the County Fire Department.
Fire Prevention Branch
Fire Investigations
The Fire Prevention Branch investigated one structure fire during the month of April. The
incident happened in District 4. The fire in District 4 is being classified as Undetermined, as the
structure was not stable enough for Investigator entry, and most of the area of origin was
almost completely destroyed by the Fire.
In a recent report by the
ATF, evidence recovered
in a high-profile structure
fire in July 2023 in
Holualoa, North Kona was
examined by ATF
laboratory and was
deemed a capacitor with
no evidence of an
electrical failure. The
cause of the fire remains
Undetermined.
Public Education
We continued to push out information on our social
media channels. We started a podcast called “Fire
Tip Tuesdays” where we pick a topic and educate
the public on the subject. See the podcasting series
and other videos on our YouTube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/@HawaiiFireDepartment
2024 | APRIL PAGE 12
Wildfire Preparedness
Two residential home assessments were conducted in April. A meeting was held with Waikoloa
Hills HOA officials and HWMO regarding wildfire preparedness such as defensible spaces,
hardening their homes, creating a safe home in the Wildland Urban Interface area, Evacation
Plans, Fire Department Resources, and point out areas of concerns within the subdivision. We
continue to partner with HWMO to reduce the impact of wildfire on our Island.
Prevention met with Kamehameha School Officials who provided information on their fuel
reduction efforts in North Kona. Fuel reduction efforts have been completed on Hualalai Road
below Queen K. Highway Extension and near the Walua walking trail.
Discussions have begun with the company N5 to install imaging cameras in high frequency
wildfire areas. Although discussions are still ongoing, we hope to have progress soon as
wildfire season is upon us, and early detection is key to our wildfire suppression efforts. See a
little bit about the sensors here: https://n5sensors.com/wildfire-monitoring/.
Monthly Totals (All Inspectors) April
Certificate of Occupancy 2
Commercial 8
Re-Inspections Commercial 26
Educational 11
Re-Inspections Educational 4
Fire Protection System Acceptance Testing 29
Complaint Investigation 2
AST/UST/LPG Site Inspection 14
Tent Site Inspection 3
Total 99
Plan Review 81
Logistics, Emergency Communications, and Vehicle
Maintenance Section
Emergency Communications
Recruitment and Personnel Updates
Three FCO I were promoted to FCO II, we are continuing class with 5 FCO I
The Realistic Job Preview was done on 4/26 for the upcoming FCO class.
Captain Domingo was promoted to Battalion Chief of Fire Communications Section
effective May 1st. Congratulations BC Domingo!
Please welcome new Fire Equipment Mechanic Richard (Aka) Furtado
Apparatus and Equipment Repair
One-hundred fifty (150) total repairs/service.
Fifteen (15) service calls or trouble calls.
Seven (7) contracted-out and tows
2024 | APRIL PAGE 13
Information Technology Highlights
Finish MDT setups for engines received from Honolulu Fire Department. When these
spare engines are going in service for an engine they can dock the MDT from that
engine.
Complete required Spillman patch on all MDTs.
MDTs for E21 and X08 sent to Panasonic for repairs.
Work with Hawaiian Telcom on phone lines repair at Central Fire Station.
Joint Communication Center (JCC) meeting. Tentative building completion date
6/24/24. Occupation date TBD.
ProQA meeting about adding fire module.
2nd NetMotion (VPN) meeting.
SAFETY SPECIALIST REPORT
During April, the Safety Specialist oversaw various safety initiatives. Despite ongoing efforts to
obtain updates on the Central Fire Station inspection from HiOSH, progress remained elusive.
Nonetheless, Safety remained proactive, disseminating notices regarding potential hazards
like a Recall of Hyundai and Kia Vehicles due to fire risk, Elide Brand Fire Extinguisher Balls,
Avian Influenza, a Pertussis outbreak, E. coli outbreak linked to walnuts, and nighttime runway
maintenance at Hilo International Airport. Additionally, through collaborations with the
Warehouse, Treadmill Safety Flyers have been distributed with each new treadmill, and Field
Decontamination Kits were distributed throughout the island. Collaboration remains a crucial
focus, evident in meetings such as the HFD/HFFA Joint Safety Committee, which recommended
several program renewals and policy approvals. The Committee is conducting a department-
wide Health and safety culture survey beginning the last week of April through May 8th.
Safety assumed some duties related to
coordinating continuity of operations
planning, ensuring the department's ability
to function effectively during unforeseen
circumstances. HFD Admin exercised the
COOP plan coinciding with a state-wide
tsunami exercise on April 25th (photo
below). During April, Safety reviewed
seven Incident/Accident Reports (3-
Incident, 4 Accident). Five of the seven
involved Fire Ops, and the other two
involved Ocean Safety. Four
vehicle/equipment/property damage
reports were reviewed in April.
END REPORT