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Home My WebLink About08-11-04COUNTY OF HAWAII FIRE COMMISSION FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT August 11, 2004 • Lance/Jesse-modeling of proposed duty uniform. • Introduction of 31st Recruit Class Budget Alternative Funding and Grants • Automated External Defibrillator Access Program Grant: Presently before the Council for formal authorization to enter into an agreement with the State Department of Health. Grant is for $62,000 to establish a community AED advisory committee, coordinate training with American Heart Association, and purchase of 17 to 20 AEDs for placement with identified agencies; and assist AED agencies with medical protocols. Capital Improvement Projects • Puna Public Safety Complex: No new updates. • Pahoa Fire Station: Department of Public Works completed the consolidation of the lots for the Pahoa property set aside. Consolidation was approved by Planning Director Chris Yuen on August 3, 2004. • Fire Administration: Property just above Komohana Street intersection with the Mohouli extension and the Sunrise Ridge subdivision selected as priority site. Submitted request to Public Works to assist in developing required documents for us to acquire a five acre portion of the 30-acre parcel. Promotions and Hiring • 31st Fire Fighter Recruit Class: Class of 19 members began on August 2, 2004. • Dispatcher: Lillian Sarsfield hired on August 9, 2004 to fill vacancy left by resignation. Former police radio supervising dispatcher. • Retirement: Lloyd Narimatsu, Assistant Fire Chief, effective August 1, 2004. Operations Division • Hawaii Community Correctional Center Fire: On July 24, 2004, at 3:15 p.m., responded to call at the HCCC. Arrived on scene at 3:21. Five units (E1, AC, E4, R2, M1) responded, total 16 personnel. Fire on first floor in function area. Mattress/pillow intentionally set on fire by inmate. Cleared at 5:59 p.m. Post incident briefing today (August 11 at 0900). • Flash Flooding: EOC activated on August 3, 2004, re: flash flooding in Kona. Credit goes to personnel in the field. Prevention Division Training Division • Status of 30th Recruit Class: In their 6th week of EMT B training, covering extrication, burn and OB treatments. Completed driver training. • Driver Competency Training Program Update: All 271 drivers have been audited (100%). • Agility Test: Preparing for Fire Fighter Recruit Agility test on August 14, 2004. Volunteer Division • Volunteer Chiefs Meeting to be held on 8-14-04/1000, Stn 11 Pahala. EMS Division • Ocean View Ambulance Service: Scheduled for implementation on November 1, 2005. Working with State Department of Health, Carrus Foundation, and Ocean View Community Association. • MICT Class: Next MICT Mentoring class to be held on August 31, 2004, re: Respiratory/Airway (Lance Uchida). Trying to be on schedule for tentative start date of September 27. Fire Auxiliary Services • Federal EPA Contaminated Soil Clean-Up Project: Completion of assistance for project (Ponahawai Street/Kamehameha Avenue). • HELCO Donated Trucks: Completion of refurbishing of trucks by Mechanic Shop personnel to brush fire truck capable vehicles. Will be assigned shortly. • Records Retention Project: Conversion of hard copy files of NFFIRS to electronic format data retention. To date, over 2,000 entries completed in ongoing records retention project. • Training: Auxiliary Services Supervisor Vivian Akine completed Intergraph Public Safety Conference and is presently attending Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials Conference in Montreal, Canada. • Laptop: Dispatch Center lap top received and being set up with information (forms, tracking data, and mapping information) for utilization when Dispatch Center emergency relocates to CD EOC. • West Hawaii Sub-Storage Container: Initial stocking of emergency supplies and equipment completed; satellite storage facility up and running. New Projects/Business • Attendance Record Card Program: Computerized program to track vacation and sick leave usage and balances implemented at all networked fire stations and divisions. Will eliminate paperwork and redundancy. Devised by Judy Kaeo. • Big Island County Drought Planning Workshop: Attended on July 20; follow-up on August 17. Lead agency is Department of Agriculture. Purpose is to work with various agencies to identify the impact of droughts and how it relates to fire and wildland issues. • 2nd Annual Transportation Conference – Getting From Here to There: Attended on July 21, 2004 in Kona. Sponsored by the County Mass Transit. Geared toward identifying traffic problems in West Hawaii and how mass transit plays a role in fixing community based problems. • ID Card Program: Recently received an ID machine through Office of Domestic Preparedness funds. Will provide Ids for all fire personnel, including Fire Commissioners, but more importantly will give us the capability to provide cards for a fireground personnel accountability program. Public Relations • Puainako Express: Held on August 7, 2004, coordinated by the East Hawaii Coalition for the Homeless, and supported by County departments (Fire, Public Works). 10K run and 5K walk. 284 participants; spectacular view of Hilo. Enjoyed by all. • World Sprints (August 11 to 15): Officially began today. Providing medic support for event. • American Cancer Society Relay for Life: Participated in Hilo’s event at Wong Stadium on July 17 and 18. Partnered with Police, Corporation Counsel and Prosecuting Attorney office. • 3rd Annual KTA-HIUW Bag Brigade: Begins August 21 at KTA-Kailua, and continues at various Saturdays at all six KTA stores islandwide, ending on October 9th at KTA-Puainako. Invitations to State and Federal firefighters, and County police.