The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About05-11-05COUNTY OF HAWAII FIRE COMMISSION FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT May 11, 2005 • ID photos for Okabe and Browne (Kudlo NA) • Introduction of 32nd Fire Fighter Recruit Class Budget • FY 2005/06: Mayor submitted amended budget requests to County Council, who has until June 30 to approve. Alternative Funding and Grants • USFA Grant: Continuing to obtain bid specification for our modular live fire training unit (burn trailer). Grant writing team may go to Oahu, as they have received their unit. Will allow us to make a more informed and educated decision on our specifications. (Federal portion is $301,000; County match is $129,000) • FY 2005 Assistance to Firefighters Grant: No new updates since last month’s meeting. (Grant application on April 8, 2005 under the Operations and Safety program category. Total budget is $406,016 (Federal) and $101,504 (County 20% match), total $507,520) • DOT Safe Highways Grant: Should be receiving 67 spineboards in near future acquired through this grant. In process of formalizing distribution procedures. • USDA Rural Development Grant: Just received approval notice on our pre-application to acquire one extrication device for the Pahala fire apparatus. $26,000. In process of submitting formal grant application. Capital Improvement Projects • Puna Public Safety Complex: No new updates. • Pahoa Fire Station: Environmental Assessment has been submitted for publication on May 23. “Release of grant conditions” expected at the end of the month. “Special use permit” application process to begin on May 24. Final plans will be completed by the end of June. Construction projected for October or November start. • Fire Administration & Support Facility: Meeting held on May 16 with division heads to finalize space requirements. Following consolidation of material, will submit formal request to Public Works for consultant selection as well as submit request for allotment of site development funds of $2.5 million. Anticipate beginning design and EA phase in FY 2005-06, and beginning construction in FY 2006-07. • Kalaoa Fire Station: Working with developer to expedite final plans from architect. • Central Fire Station: Met with Housing and Urban Development engineer while he was in Hilo for Lanikila Housing blessing. He was shown area that we are requesting. • Re-Roofing at Central Fire Station: Public Works has already identified a design consultant for this project. (re: $40,000 appropriated from fund balance to hire design consultant to replace/repair Central roof) • Naalehu Fire Station: Site selections has been narrowed down to one parcel: On Highway 11, owned by County. Promotions and Hiring • Fire Fighter Recruit Hiring: 32nd Fire Fighter Recruit class began on April 18 with a class of 20. Began their 4th week of training this week. Into the 7th chapter of Essentials (fire behavior). Already certified in First Aid and CPR. Presently in wet drills portion of training. • Fire Radio Dispatcher I: Six new dispatchers in Emergency Medical Dispatcher training this week and unable to be present at today’s meeting. • Fire Radio Dispatcher III (Supervisors): Internal recruitment in progress. Awaiting certified list from Civil Service. • Account Clerk: Establishment of temporary position until permanent position acquired to help out in Payroll. Certified list received; candidates to be contacted soon. • Clerk III: List received; goal to fill position by July 1. Operations Division • Arraujo Complaint: As reported last month, letter sent to the Arraujo’s regarding the disposition of their complaint. They were informed that this incident was investigated and subsequent action was taken. • National Inland Search & Rescue Course: Attended by FEO James Kuniyoshi and Miles Kawazoe on Oahu on April 25 to 29. Sponsored by Honolulu Police Department and State Civil Defense. • Emergency Management Program Workshop: Attended by five of our personnel on April 26, re: disaster preparedness. Sponsored by NTSB & Healthcare Association of Hawaii. • Hazardous Materials Technician Training: Our County will host next statewide Hazardous Materials Technician Training in June (chemistry) and July/August (tactics). To be held in West Hawaii. • Weapons of Mass Destruction Rad/Nuc Awareness/Responder Training: FEO Patrick Paarish and FF Ananda Hogan will attend 4-day training on May 16 to 19 in Bechtel, Nevada. Prevention Division • FEST Seminar: Finalizing plans for Fireworks Education and Safety Training (FEST) seminar scheduled for May 17 to 19, 2005. Expecting participation from Honolulu, Maui, and Kauai Fire Departments, Liquor Control, pyrotechnicians throughout the State, as well as our personnel. • Temporary Assignment to Prevention: Going well. Gantry Andrade, Bobby Perreira, and Jeff Kahakua began their TA to Prevention on April 18, 2005. Hopefully mid month will rotate guys back and bring in 2 additional personnel who have expressed interest. Training Division • 31st Recruit Class Update: On EMT B portion of training. This week they are undergoing skills testing, followed by clinical at the stations. Volunteer Training Division • Volunteer Chief’s Meeting: This Saturday, May 14, at 1000, at South Kohala fire station. EMS Division • MICT Class Update: Students presently on Oahu for six months. Have not heard any issues coming out of class. Appears that all have found housing—either staying with family or found apartment. Several students putting together an “MICT survival guide” to help future MICT students. • Medical Director Contracts: New medical director Dr. Lee Fineberg (Hilo Medical Center) staying very active and involved within department, and his openness and sincerity in moving program along. Still trying to finalize contract for Dr. McDowell (Kona Hospital). Fire Auxiliary Services • Navigator 2005 Conference: BC Matsui just returned from Navigator 2005 conference in Baltimore, Maryland. Event brings together all communications people who look at future trends; problems occurring. Opportunity to network with vendors and others in public safety. Trends as far as our future communications: planning and design of new communication center; secondary communicatioan center; new version of fire protocol (similar to EMD); quality assurance certification for communications center for accredidation for center. We are as advanced as anyone in nation; but our equipment not quite there. • Supply/Logistics: Trying to get computerized as far as distribution/receiving of supplies. • Storage Container: In process of getting a 40 foot Matson container to help with storage of equipment and supplies; to be situated next to Training room where buses park. Goal is to create better space for warehouse. New Projects/Business • Fire Science 151 & 152 Classes: Fire Science 152 class has been completed; all students passed. • Media Relations Classes: Met with Corp Counsel, re: HIPAA and public’s right to know act or policies. Sent them copies of present media release. They will review current media release format and will come back on guidelines on HIPPA and recommendations of changing format if need be. Following this, will again meet with Dr. Miura. Plan on conducting mock television news casts. Rosey Rosenthal, Janet Snyder, and Tim O’Brien (freelance photographer for state) have offered their assistance. Will incorporate press from newspaper and TV. • Hawaii Fire Chief’s Association Conference: First committee planning meeting for conference on held on April 21. Will be meeting on-site on May 20 with committee members. Conference to be held November 17 to 20, 2005. • Ocean Safety: Based on results from employee survey, lifeguard responses overwhelming in support of transfer; very few negative. Our department is about 50- 50 split on pros and cons, with a fair number of responses saying need more information. Need to get a conceptual plan together so everyone understands role. Obvious that better information needs to get out and we need a plan. Looking at a minimum of 2 to 3 years out before we see any move. • Shattered Dreams project: Recently participated in a mock auto crash involving drinking and driving. Support tremendous from our department; school and project coordinators very appreciative. Good project; Councilman Safarik looking to see if he can get funding to bring project to all schools. • County Garage Sale: Participated in County-wide garage sale with all proceeds to purchase care packages for deployed employees as well as certificates for those who already returned. We ran concession with fire fighters and recruits; raised $560. Nice event and good participation. Employee/Public Relations • Mother’s Day Rose Project: Third year of our “Fighting for a Cure” to benefit American Cancer Society. Over 200 rose orders delivered on May 6th for Mother’s Day. Past 2 years raised $6,000. Spearheaded by FF Chris Honda and FEO Lance Uchida. • EMS Week: To be held May 22, 2005 at Liliuokalani Gardens in Hilo. Celebrating 30 years of EMS on the County of Hawaii. Invitations sent out to Fire Commissioners. 5K Family Run and 2-Mile Walk will begin at 0830. The American Heart Association, Hawaii Bone Marrow Registry, Ululani Pharmacy, and Keiki ID will be on hand to provide free services to the public. In addition, concession and in-house “Tug of War Challenge”.