HomeMy WebLinkAbout09 FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT FY 24-25 MARCH
2025 | MARCH FISCAL YEAR 24-25
FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT
HAWAI’I FIRE DEPARTMENT 25 AUPUNI ST., SUITE 2501 HILO, HAWAI’I 96720 FIRE@HAWAIICOUNTY.GOV
Admin Div: Fiscal Branch Report .............................................................................................................. 3
Program Budget Goals ....................................................................................................................... 3
Budget ...................................................................................................................................................... 3
Grants ....................................................................................................................................................... 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 ................................................................................................................. 11
Fire Prevention Branch .......................................................................................................................... 12
Logistics, Emergency Communications, and Vehicle Maintenance Section ..................... 13
Emergency Communications ......................................................................................................... 14
Information Technology Highlights ............................................................................................ 14
Safety Specialist Report ............................................................................................................................ 14
Facilities Updates ........................................................................................................................................ 15
Snapshots and Stories ............................................................................................................................... 15
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2025 | MARCH PAGE 3
ADMIN DIV: FISCAL BRANCH REPORT
Program Budget Goals March YTD Goal
Invoice Settlement within 30 days 93% 94% 90%
Pay-out of CILV’s within 90 days 100% 96% 95%
Dollar value of grants applied for $5,372,585 $27,850,085 $5,000,000 Dollar value of grants received $ 0 $ 488,723 $5,000,000
Budget Category Adj Appropriation YTD Expenditures % Used Goal
Fire S&W 40,078,922.00 30,863,761.87 77.01 79.17
6221-6225 OCE 6,114,148.96 4,861,955.63 79.52 75.00
Equipment 3,830,919.61 3,228,666.54 84.28 75.00
Grants & Misc S&W 661,520.09 257,161.00 38.87% 79.17
6226 OCE 1,327,882.56 266,389.14 20.06 75.00
Equipment 697,875.20 469,125.77 67.22 75.00
EMS S&W 15,630,607.00 11,155,444.66 71.37 79.17
6227 OCE 2,889,425.33 1,580,124.76 54.69 75.00
Equipment 3,220,637.02 3,113,529.41 96.67 75.00
Ocean Safety S&W 5,483,856.34 3,368,328.04 61.42 79.17
6228 OCE 352,845.49 282,336.35 80.02 75.00
Equipment 522,905.32 322,495.64 61.67 75.00
Total Budget 80,811,544.92 59,769,318.81 73.96
Grants Update
2023 CDBG (3) Brush Trucks $625,693 furnished by Orchid Isle Ford. Delivery pending.
2024 CDBG
Received (1) 2025 Kawasaki Mule Pro-FXT UTV and trailer for the Pahala Fire Station. Delivery pending on a fire pump skid. Bid for a brush truck for the Puna Volunteer Fire Station awarded to Rebel Strike LLC.
CDBG- MIT Wildfire Mitigation Reviewing bids for (1) Mobile Command Vehicle, (3) Brush Trucks, and (1) Mobile Service Trailer.
FY 2021 AFG Equipment received for Fire Base Station Refresh Project. The grant is 100% obligated as of 3/31/25. Closing out grant.
FY 2023 AFG Grant awarded establishing a Hazard Zone (IDLH) Incident Command and a Control Training Program to provide safe, effective, and efficient HFD emergency response Operations. FY 23 USDA Volunteer Fire Capacity Project The bid was awarded to Orchid Isle Ford for two (2) Brush Trucks $411,097. Delivery pending
FY 24 USDA Volunteer Fire Capacity Project Supplies and equipment continue to arrive for the Volunteer Operations section. Kohanaiki Lifeguard Tower (Fair Share funds)
I.D.R. Surveyor Apex lifeguard tower furnished by Newport Laminates. Delivery expected in the second quarter of 2025.
Leleiwi Lifeguard Tower (Fair Share Funds)
Surveyor Junior lifeguard tower furnished by Newport Laminates. Delivery expected in early 2026.
2025 | MARCH PAGE 4
ADMIN DIV: HR BRANCH REPORT
Program Budget Goals March YTD GOAL
Process actions within 15 working days 103 200 100%
Recruitment Actions < 30 days 13
37 100% Promotion Actions < 30 days 0
1 100%
Personnel Actions within 30 days, <10% error 90 166 100%
Internal Recruitment within Department
Position Status Report
Battalion Chief (EMS Bureau) Recruitment opened 03/16/25 and closed on 03/25/25.
Battalion Chief (Special Operations) Assessment scheduled 04/08/25.
Fire Equipment Operator Assessment scheduled 04/09/25.
Fire Haz/Mat Specialist Written exam on 03/28/25. Two (2) names referred.
Fire Prevention Inspector II
One (1) name referred for screening. Assessment scheduled 04/10/25.
Water Safety Officer V Recruitment opened 03/16/25 and closed on 03/25/25.
Open-Competitive Recruitment
Position Status Report
Program Support Technician Six (6) names referred. Interview scheduled 04/14/25.
Fire Fighter Recruit (Temp)
31 applicants passed PAE; interviews scheduled 04/01 – 04/03/25.
Fire/EMS Recruit One (1) applicant passed; interviews scheduled for 04/08/25.
Automotive Storekeeper New recruitment held. Closed 03/25/25. Awaiting referral of names.
Fire Communications Officer I Open on continuous recruitment.
Water Safety Officer I Open on continuous recruitment.
Senior Account Clerk Resubmitted RTF for three (3) positions (hire above the min).
Human Resources Program Specialist
Interviews held 03/07/25; no selection made. Submitted new RTF (hire above the min)
2025 | MARCH PAGE 5
OPERATIONS
Emergency Operations
Total Calls for Calendar Year 2025 March % YTD %
Fire 108 4% 309 4%
Overpressure, Rupture, Explosion- no fire 0 0% 0 0%
Rescue and EMS 1880 71% 5451 69%
Hazardous Cond. (no fire) 15 1% 53 1%
Service Call 196 7% 639 8%
Good Intent calls 408 15% 1339 17%
False Alarm / False calls 22 1% 81 1%
Severe Weather 0 0% 0 0%
Special Incident Type 3 0% 14 0%
Other (not completed yet) 2 0% 0 0%
Totals 2634 100% 7886 100%
Response Times CY 2025
Statistic March % that meet.… YTD % that meet...
Avg. Turn out time (Fire) 2:18 (80 sec.) 17.59% 2:17 (80 sec.) 19.54%
Avg. Turn out time (EMS) 2:00 (60 sec.) 19.2% 2:03 (60 sec.) 19.15%
Statistic March % that meet 6 min. YTD % that meet 6 min
Avg. Response Time (Fire) 10:15 14.81% 10:06 16.83%
Avg. Response Time
(EMS)
9:04 22.39% 8:57 21.23%
Fire Impacts CY 2025
Call Type February YTD
Wildland calls (140, 141, 142, 143) 26 70
Acres burned 30 190
Structure Fires (110 & 111) 7 22
Property and Contents - Loss $579,000.00 $1,934,300.00
Property and Contents - Save $155,000.00 $840,600.00
Other fires (all other 100 series) 75 217
Property and Contents - Loss $25,700.00 $26,200.00
Property and Contents - Save $4,500.00 $4,500.00
Year 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 (est.)
Total Calls 25,015 27,398 29,594 30,738 31,143 31,544
2025 | MARCH PAGE 6
Emergency Operations Highlights
Battalion 1, East Hawaiʻi
• 3/1, Inc #05307; Rescue: Swimmer in distress, Govt. Beach Rd/Dist. 10, victim
floating face down in water. Chopper 1 extricated person to M10 location at
landing zone. Resuscitation attempted enroute to HL ER with no return on pulse.
No other injuries were reported. 1 fatality.
• 3/8, Inc #05901; Brush Fire: Kapapala Ranch, Mauka of Hwy 11, near 48mm/Dist.
11. Difficult access. Fire controlled by C1 and C2 until able to gain access with
assistance of ranch manager. Fire break cut around fire with ranch bulldozer. HFD
personnel extinguished and overhauled fire. No injuries or fatalities reported.
• 3/15, Inc #06548, Rescue: Beyond Old Puna Road/Dist. 10, Hiker lost overnight,
one person rescued.
Battalion 2, West Hawaiʻi
• 3/15, Inc #06506, Rescue: Stalled Jet Ski with 2 parties on board, located by C2
and towed in by Sealegs. Dist 12. No EMS needed
• 3/18, Inc #06735 Search and Rescue: Missing Person Milolii Dist. 20, 51 y.o.
female. 3–day multi-agency search with negative findings.
• 3/22, Inc #07123; Brush Fire: Alii Dr. near Magics Beach, 1 acre
• 3/29, Inc #07684 Structure Fire: Dist. 7 Charging batteries in garage ignited
contents of garage. Fire confined to garage area. No injuries.
Special Operations
Haz-Mat
• Planning for the annual 93rd CST Hazmat training exercise continues.
• New Supplied Air System carts for both Hazmat stations ordered
Ocean Safety
• WSO recruitment update:
o WSO V recruitment application period closed and awaiting the list of
candidates.
o WSO I on continuous open recruitment.
• WSO V vehicle procurement process initiated
Rescue
• IFB for RB7-7 (Radon) repower to Outboards continues.
• 4 Rescue personnel attended Rope Rescue training with Maui FD on March 23-
29.
2025 | MARCH PAGE 7
Incident heat map and YTD stats for March 2025 Link for Station Call Volume Breakdown
2025 | MARCH PAGE 8
SUPPORT SERVICES
Emergency Medical Services Branch Ambulance Blessing A blessing was held on March 17, 2025, for our four new ambulance units. These units have been assigned to the following fire stations: Station 1 Central, Station 12 Keauhou, Station 16 Waikoloa, and Station 20 Ocean View Estates. A big mahalo to everyone that assisted with this process.
Upcoming Ambulance Deliveries – July 2025 Our next four new ambulance units are expected to arrive in July 2025. Braun Northwest in Chehalis, Washington, has been awarded the bid and has already begun the fabrication process. These new ambulance units will be assigned to the following fire stations: Station 5 Keaau, Station 7 Kailua Kona, Station 10 Pahoa, and Station 18 Hawaiian Paradise Park. Field Death Pronouncement Protocol EMS Branch personnel have been working closely with HPD, Corporation Council, and the State Department of Health to develop a field death pronouncement protocol. The new policy aims to alleviate pressure on hospital morgues and will take effect on April 1, 2025. Waiākea Intermediate Career Fair Fire Prevention and EMS Branch personnel assisted with a career fair at Waiakea Intermediate School on March 14, 2025. Approximately 70 students attended. ESO Health Data Exchange (HDE) Rollout EMS Branch personnel participated in a State Department of Health meeting with all EMS agencies to discuss the rollout of ESO’s new Health Data Exchange (HDE) platform. HDE is a bidirectional data-sharing program between EMS agencies and hospitals. While the implementation date has not yet been determined, Kona Community Hospital and Queen’s North Hawaiʻi Community Hospital are almost complete with product testing. Hilo Benioff Medical Center will be onboarded soon.
2025 | MARCH PAGE 9
Trauma Activation Criteria Updates EMS Branch personnel met with the trauma coordinators from our island’s Level 3 trauma hospitals to discuss updating our trauma activation criteria. CPR Instructor Recertification Training EMS Branch coordinated an American Heart Association CPR instructor recertification training on March 25, 2025. Our instructors will be contacting the stations to coordinate training dates and times. The classes will begin in April and will be completed by the end of May. FERNO Technician Recertification Four of our FERNO technicians from support services attended a recertification training in Honolulu. This is a mandatory certification to repair our FERNO cots.
Training Services Branch
Fire Attack Keystone Evolutions Completed Fire Attack Keystone Evolutions have been completed for Companies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 14, 16, 18, and 19. The Keystone Evolution is a needs assessment-based training evolution simulating a Single-Family Dwelling (SFD) fire. It is designed to evaluate and enhance the department’s interior offensive fire attack capabilities. Data collection focuses on critical performance indicators such as suppression times, fire attack methods, and compliance with safety protocols. The primary goals are to establish performance benchmarks, identify operational gaps, reinforce firefighter safety, and enhance fireground efficiency through targeted training. After Action Reviews (AARs) for Keystone Evolutions were conducted by the Training Branch at the request of Company Officers. AARs have been completed for Companies 1C and 3B. These company-specific findings, data and video are only shared with the participating company. The aggregated data set is currently being compiled to present this internal needs analysis to Fire Administration.
2025 | MARCH PAGE 10
Firefighter of the Year Recognition The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaiʻi honored the Police Officer and Firefighter of the year at a recognition ceremony held on Saturday, March 8, in Hilo. Hawaiʻi Police Department Puna Patrol Officer Rodney De Lima Jr. – 2024 Officer of the Year, for his exemplary role in the apprehension of multiple armed and dangerous fugitives in December 2024. Hawaiʻi Fire Department Battalion Chief Patrick Springer – 2024 Firefighter of the Year, for his outstanding leadership in expanding and professionalizing the department’s Training Section, which has seen significant growth in both size and scope under his direction. New Auto-Extrication Tools at Haihai Station Haihai Fire Station received new Genesis battery-operated auto-extrication tools. In service training was conducted on March 17, 18, and 19 by Jay Kauhane of Swift Rescue Group. Rope Rescue Technician Training Completed Captains Garrett Kim and Michael Akau, along with Fire Rescue Specialists Tay Soares and Daniel Okumura, completed a 65-hour Rope Rescue Technician I/II course hosted by the Maui Fire Department (MFD). This training opportunity served two primary purposes: to enhance the capabilities of HFD’s Rope Rescue Program, and to begin research and development of a formal instructor cadre and certification framework for technical rescue disciplines. These personnel will continue to collaborate with the Training Branch to enhance our Rope Rescue Program. Final Acceptance Testing of New Fire Engine Chief Darwin Okinaka, Chief Mechanic Aaron Buyuan, and Captain Roback traveled to Burton’s Fire in Modesto, California, to complete final acceptance testing for the department’s new Rosenbauer “General” Type 1 Fire Engine. This engine will serve primarily as a spare apparatus, ready to support operational units during equipment downtime. It will be maintained and housed by the Training Services Branch, where it will also be utilized to support training activities for Emergency Operations personnel and Firefighter Recruits.
2025 | MARCH PAGE 11
Volunteer Training Section
1-A (Pepeʻekeo) Volunteer Company 1A participated in the Keiki Fun Day held at the Puainako Center. The children loved being able to go through the fire truck! They also did a static display at the Kulaimano Community Center during spring break and performed a weekend station cleanup. (photos)
5-D (Fern Acres) 5-Delta responded to 1 structure fire, 1 car fire and 2 calls for “smell of smoke”. They also have four new volunteers in various stages of onboarding. 7-B (Kalaoa) Volunteer Company 7B was dispatched to 2 calls during the month of March and conducted training on PPE and performed vehicle maintenance. 8-A (Paʻauilo) Volunteer Company 8A was dispatched for a smell of smoke call and a brush fire. Vol. Co. 8A also participated in a joint training with Company 8 Honoka’a which covered drafting from a static water source. 9-B (Kanehoa) Volunteer Company 9B hosted an HWMO (Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization) meeting for three local neighborhoods to attend. 9-B performed driver training and set up multiple obstacle courses on three occasions to prepare a new driver for the upcoming driver training course in April. 9-B also conducted 2 wildland hose drills. 10-D (Ainaloa) In the month of March, Ainaloa volunteers responded to 6 incidents; including 1 Vehicle Fire in Hawaiian Acres, 1 Structure Fire in Kalapana Black Sands, & 1 Brush Fire in Pahoa. 10-Delta also increased its community engagement by attending Ainaloa Community Association meetings, & functions. (photos)
2025 | MARCH PAGE 12
20-A (HOVE) Volunteer Company 20A was dispatched to multiple fires (structure, vehicle, brush, and smoke sighted) during the month of March.
Fire Prevention Branch
Fire Inspections Our current fire inspectors are conducting business inspections in District 3 and District 9 utilizing EPR Fireworks and adding properties as inspections are completed. Community Outreach, Events & Social Media March 3: BC Henderson with all county fire departments participated in reconstructing the state fire code amendments March 14: Inspector Requelman and Aaron Moniz attended Keaau HS Career Fair with Station 5 personnel March 14: Capt. Goo attended the Waiakea Inter. Career Fair with BC Honda and Capt. Kanae March 24: Inspector Requelman, T/A Inspector Moniz and Capt. Goo completed a high hazard fire inspection at Life Care Center in Dist.3 March 21: Capt. Goo met with Fire Inspectors from California for Fuel Farm Inspections in Dist.2 March 27: Capt. Goo attended the Creative Media Summit hosted by COH Mayor's Office, County Council IV and Dept. Of R&D Month of March: Capt.Goo has been completing several Last Interview for several upcoming retirements for 2025
2025 | MARCH PAGE 13
Plan Review / Active Construction All plans in the EPIC system and submitted shop drawings have been reviewed and completed within the allotted 14-day turnaround period for the month. March 13: Inspector Ahu completed the final inspection for the fire alarm for HFS in Dist.1 Fire Investigations/UAS Program March 5: Capt. Goo attended O&C Fire Investigations on Fuel-Burning Appliances March 19: Dist. 20 Milolii UAS Search w/P-01 BC Henderson/Capt. Goo March 21: Dist. 5 Menpachi Street Undetermined Capt. Goo/Insp. Requelman
March 25: Capt. Goo attended a programming meeting with NOVA for the UAS program including CAL Fire, Phoenix Fire and many other depts utilizing NOVA
Logistics, Emergency Communications, and Vehicle
Maintenance Section
• Program Support technician interviews are scheduled, hoping to fill the position. • Fire ordering for Shopify
o 391 customers
o 76 orders for the month of March
o Approximate gross order sales, 13K of products • Still working on canopy tent for station 7 hoping to complete it soon • 15 (460 pails) pallets of foam was received via the VFA grant and were distributed to various volunteer stations • Apparatus and equipment repair
o Two hundred and forty-six (246) total repairs/service.
o Twenty-eight (28) service calls or trouble calls.
o Twenty-four (24) contracted out and tows
2025 | MARCH PAGE 14
Emergency Communications • The HCECC project continues to move forward with a projected cutover date of April 24, 2025. Chief Domingo and Captain Kaneshiro continue to meet weekly with the team to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. • RapidSOS trainers came from the mainland to provide in person user training to our Fire Communication Officers and admin training for Chief Domingo, Captain Kaneshiro, and our HPD partners. • Chief Domingo and Captain Kaneshiro met with the AlertWest team to see how their application can support early detection of wildfires, using AI, on the Big Island. Plans are being made for a Train the Trainer training for the Fire Communication Officers. Information Technology Highlights • Fireworks inventory list received from all stations. Working on addressing items not found, when that is completed, list will be uploaded into FireWorks and station inventory and item checks will be built. • MDT for E07 received back from repairs with Panasonic. Will send to station and receive Spare MDT back. • Spare MDT for E15 sent out. E15 MDT to be repaired. • Faulty power supply wire for E18 MDT replaced. • MDT for BR10 sent in to troubleshoot FirstNet cellular connection problem. • Central Fire Station relocation site.
o Site Survey with Spectrum for Inet fiber install.
o Terminated and tested existing Cat5e cabling for radio and computer network. • Continued meetings for the Joint Communication Center.
o Motorola P25 radio setup completed, and primary site moved from Police to ECC.
o Dispatch CAD computer testing.
o Targeted go live date in late April. • CradlePoint VPN license received, working on server setup and configuration.
SAFETY SPECIALIST REPORT
A summary of Safety’s notable issues for March 2025: Three crew members reported mild symptoms during an ARFF training exercise, possibly tied to SCBA bottles filled by ARFF or our compressors—air quality tests were negative, and after servicing the SCBA packs, we are in process of sending the suspect bottles for inspection and hydro-testing. We also found G1 SCBA exhaust valve corrosion from improper cleaning; the warehouse is out of MSA disinfectant, but Betco pH7Q is a safe substitute—please clean gear correctly! Station #18’s mold and lead tests showed no detectable issues, and I’m awaiting equipment and repairs for further checks, while Waiakea Fire Station’s roof still has missing ceiling tiles but no new leaks. The relocation from Central Fire Station remains on track for May 1, and Rescue Boat #2’s fuel saturation issue post-tank repair is under close monitoring. The Continuity of Operations (COOP) exercise concluded, with the draft After Action Report out—feedback is due by April 2. Mahalo for keeping safety first.
2025 | MARCH PAGE 15
FACILITIES UPDATES
Temporary Central Fire Station Construction Progress Photos courtesy of Assistant Fire Chief Ian Chadwick.
SNAPSHOTS AND STORIES
Keonepoko Elementary School Visit Battalion Chief Troy Gibson, Sr. helps Keonepoko Elementary School Girl Scouts earn their First Aid Badge.
END REPORT