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Home My WebLink About02-09-05COUNTY OF HAWAII FIRE COMMISSION FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT February 9, 2005 Budget • FY 2005/06: Met with Finance staff on January 13, 2005. F-1 requested the parameters to understanding line items. Can consistent increases be factored into our status quo budget? Per Takamura, maybe next year, they may tell us it is part of our base and to put in our program budget. Our CIP and Budget will be heard before the Council on March 29 at 1330 in the County Council room. Alternative Funding and Grants • USFA Grant: Have not yet heard back from Department of Homeland Security regarding our FY 2004 Assistance to Firefighters Grant following our reply to their electronic inquiry. FEMA will be auditing our 2002 grant award on February 16, 2005. Capital Improvement Projects • Puna Public Safety Complex: No new updates. • Pahoa Fire Station: Draft Environmental Assessment has been received and submitted to the Stte. Work on obtaining a special permit on the zoning cannot begin until an approval is received on the EA. We are presently reviewing the latest design matrix received from Architects Hawaii. • Kalaoa Fire Station: Continues to make progress. Continuing to work on sight distance and clearance issues and possibility of obtaining variance on speed limit. • Central Fire Station: Letter sent to Public Works for support on obtaining Ululani Street from Wailoa Street as part of the overall acquisition (dedication to County). Promotions and Hiring • Fire Radio Dispatcher III Promotions: Have not yet re-posted internal recruitment for these positions. • Fire Radio Dispatch I: Interviews scheduled for February 14 to 16. Invitations extended to Commissioners to sit in on process; however, they will need to commit to entire period of time. • FEO Promotions/Assessment Center: Held January 24 and 25, 2005. Interviews on January 26 to 28. • Fire Fighter Recruit: COMPASS tests almost completed, and interviews to be scheduled February 10 to 18, 2005. • Captain Promotions: Five FEOs promoted to Captain effective February 1, 2005: Dennis Iyo, North Kohala A Noel Aoki, North Kohala B Marshall Luke, North Kohala C Jerry Lum, Honokaa B Theodore Van Gelder, Pahala B (Temporary) 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. • Office Max Fire: Inspector Yagi has been unable to identify the probable cause. Our investigation has been turned over to the police; awaiting investigative reports from them. • EOC Activation: EOC activated on February 4, 2005 due to flooding conditions. • Hazard Evaluation & Emergency Response Sampling Class: One day training held January 25 & 26. Attended by 26 of our personnel. • ODP WMD Rad/Nuc Awareness/Responder Ops: Firefighters Michel Uchida and Jacob Van Kralingen are attending this class sponsored by ODP in Bechtel, Nevada from February 7 to 10, 2005. We will be sending more personnel to this class in the upcoming months. • National Fire Academy: FEO George Allen scheduled to attend Hazardous Material Operating Site Practices training February 28 to March 11, 2005. Captain Gerald Kosaki and FRS Don Teramoto will attend HazMat Incident Management from February 20 to 25, 2005. Prevention Division • National Fire Academy: Inspector Jack Pacleb will be attending Plans Review for Inspectors training February 28 to March 11, 2005. Training Division • 31st Recruit Class Update: Recruits have been temporarily reassigned to stations effective January 16 to March 19. EMT training will follow. • NFA Direct Delivery Course-Health and Safety Officer: 23 of our personnel, plus State and Federal firefighters, and police, attended two day Health & Safety Officer training on February 3 & 4, 2005. This course examined the Health & Safety officer’s role in identifying, evaluating and implementing policy and procedures that affect health and safety aspects for emergency responder. Risk analysis, wellness, and other occupational safety issues were the main emphasis of the course. Volunteer Training Division • National Fire Academy Applications: Submitted for the following volunteers for FY 2005 second semester: Wayne Krug (Laupahoehoe) Douglas Keown, Susan Maguilla, Andrew Coyne (Paradise Park) Richard Rego and Noralie Sanford (Volcano) • Volunteer Fire Chiefs Meeting: To be held February 26 at 1000 at Waikii Clubhouse. EMS Division • MICT Class Update: MICT Training Stipend approved by the Union and will be provided to all students in present class. • MICT Refresher/PHTLS Recertification and EMT-I Recertification Training: Ongoing during the month of February. • Medical Director: Held meetings with two medical physicians since resignation of Dr. Morrison. Hopefully will have names at next meeting. Fire Auxiliary Services New Projects/Business • Public Speaking/Media Relations Classes: Postponed to March due to various recruitments and training. • Fire Science 151 & 152 Classes: Began January 12 (C-Shift); January 18 (B-Shift); January 24 (A-Shift). About 70 firefighters and volunteer firefighters have signed up to attend. Final exams ongoing for 151 class. Meeting with Lei Kapono and Stacy Rogers to discuss Fall schedule. • Sunshine Law Workshop – West Hawaii: To be held March 22 from 1000 to 1200 at the Department of Liquor Control conference room at Hanama Place Center. • HFFA Interest Arbitration: Will be attending on Maui from February 14 to 18. • Hawaii Fire Chiefs Association Conference: Will keep Commission informed as it moves along. • Employee Quarterly Newsletter: In progress. Public Relations • American Heart Association’s Hawaii Heart Walk 2005: February 12, 2005 starting at 0800 at Liliuokalani Gardens in Hilo. Will meet at 0730 fronting the Civic Auditorium. • 3rd Annual Employees Award and Recognition Dinner: To be held April 9, 2005 at the Crown Room, Hawaii Naniloa Hotel. Invitations will be mailed this month.