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Home My WebLink About01-12-05COUNTY OF HAWAII FIRE COMMISSION FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT January 12, 2005 Budget • FY 2005/06: Met with Mayor Kim on December 20, 2004, re: positions/reorganization. Will be meeting with Finance on January 13, 2005. Alternative Funding and Grants • USFA Grant: On January 5, 2005, received electronic inquiry from the Grants Management Specialist of Department of Homeland Security regarding our FY 2004 Assistance to Firefighters Grant. re: mobile training prop for fire based scenario training ($430,000). Met with Bill Takaba, Finance, on January 7, 2005 and received his approval to transfer existing funds to cover County’s 30% cost-share amount of $129,000. Capital Improvement Projects • Puna Public Safety Complex: No new updates. • Pahoa Fire Station: Community meeting held on December 7, 2004 to gather additional input. Per consultant, Draft Environmental Assessment will be completed by end of December. • Fire Administration: Continuing to gather information to present to Mayor. • Kalaoa Fire Station: Continues to make progress now that lien issue is addressed. Presently working on sight distance and clearance issues and possibility of obtaining variance on speed limit. • Central Fire Station: Met with Kevin Funasaki, representative of Lanikila Housing. They will begin the process of including site as fire station in their Master Development Plan for area. Property is at Wailoa/Ululani Street. Promotions and Hiring • Fire Radio Dispatcher III Promotions: Re-posting of internal recruitment will be conducted due to procedural glitch. • Fire Radio Dispatch I Hiring: Background check application packets mailed and received. Will begin screening/interview process soon. • FEO Promotions/Assessment Center: Scheduled for January 24 and 25, 2005. Interviews on January 26 to 28. Invitations extended to Commissioners to sit in on process; however, they will need to commit to entire period of time. • Fire Fighter Recruit Candidates: Letters mailed to those applicants who successful completed of Phase I (background checks). Candidates have been screened for suitability in accordance with our established FF Recruit Suitability Guidelines. Targeting March or April to begin new class. Operations Division • Ocean View Fire Station: Continuing to operate with County funding; no word yet received from Donna Maiava on State funding. Will continue to monitor process. • Volcano Fire Station: Takeover of fire services commenced at 0800 on January 1, 2005. Running fairly smoothly. • Office Max Fire: Inspector awaiting continued investigative reports from police. • National Fire Academy: Captain Darren Rosario attending NFA January 3 to 14, 2005, re: Emergency Medical Services, Special Operations. Captain Quince Mento scheduled to attend January 31 to February 11, re: Executive Planning. Prevention Division • New Years Fireworks: Received reports of 18 fire-related incidents islandwide (between December 26 to January 1, 2005): 11 brush fires, no structure fires, and other fire-related incidents included smoke calls, pole fire and bulldozer fire. No fire-related injuries. Total of 2,547 permits sold ($63,675): Vendors: 1,911 Fire (Hilo): 515 Fire (Kona): 121 Training Division • 31st Recruit Class Update: Presently in driver training until next week Wednesday. On next Thursday/Friday, will be back in classroom to catch up on skills and prepare for going out to stations. EMT class will begin in March. • 30th Recruit Graduation: Held on Saturday, December 18, at 1100 at Nani Mau Gardens. Thanks to Commissioners for presence and support. Class has received initial station assignments (Central, Kailua, Honokaa, Pahoa, Keauhou, & South Kohala) effective January 1 to March 15). Volunteer Training Division EMS Division • MICT Class Update: Continuing as planned. Students will leave for Oahu in April for five months. They have expressed that mentoring program did help; will continue to support program. Fire Auxiliary Services New Projects/Business • 2005 Legislature: Received Mayor Kim’s approval to seek funding for dedicated aeromedical crew (3 MICTs and 3 EMTs) for Chopper 2. Andy Levin working on draft bill wording. • Public Speaking/Media Relations Classes: Tentatively scheduled for February; awaiting confirmation from Dr. Steven Miura of the UH to host classes for our personnel and the media, with a goal of ensuring quality public relations. • Kohala By The Sea: Received Firewise Community award on January 8, 2005 for being the first Firewise community statewide and 50th in the nation. • Fire Science 151 & 152 Classes: Scheduled to begin January 12 (C-Shift); January 18 (B- Shift); January 24 (A-Shift). About 70 firefighters and volunteer firefighters have signed up to attend. Public Relations • American Heart Association’s Hawaii Heart Walk 2005: February 12, 2005 starting at 0800 at Liliuokalani Gardens in Hilo.