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Home My WebLink About06-08-05COUNTY OF HAWAII FIRE COMMISSION FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT June 8, 2005 • Overview of rescue operations by Kailua Fire Station personnel. Budget • FY 2005/06: On June 1st, the County Council approved the County’s budget as follows: o Increase in Equipment Parts Account $ 55,000 o 2 Battalion Chiefs $133,294 o 1 Account Clerk $ 23,700 o Fire Pumper Apparatus (S. Kona) $490,000 o Fire Ladder/Aerial Platform $850,000 o Fire Brush Truck (S. Kona) $150,000 Total: $1,701,994 The Council also approved the purchase of 12 laptops to support or digital transmission of data. Additionally, salaries and wages for four identified fire fighter positions were un-funded and will be transferred to the Council’s contingency account. We will have the opportunity to request the funding prior to filling the positions. Alternative Funding and Grants • USFA Grant: Bid specifications being finalized for our modular live fire training unit (burn trailer). (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: Received 67 spineboards acquired through this grant. In process of distribution to ambulance unit stations. • FY 2004 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant: Received notice on May 19, 2005 that our grant application was not funded. Will re-apply in October. Capital Improvement Projects • Pahoa Fire Station: Environmental Assessment “FONSI” determination was published by the State on May 23. The Federal EA and letter to remove grant conditions was sent to HUD on May 9th, and with no objections, final plans can be completed by the end of June. The application for Special Use Permit change in land zoning was completed in the end of May. Nick AhYo met with the consultant, who indicated an estimate of eight acres would be the site size covered in the special use permit. • Fire Administration & Support Facility: Completion of our internal space requirements for divisions and bureaus. A consolidation of the data by the Chief, Deputy Chief and CIP manager to follow. We will request a selection of consultant to Public Works. • Kalaoa Fire Station: Developers will negotiate with adjacent landowner for “sight easement.” Project architects have received final mechanical plans and will submit them to the developer. Promotions and Hiring • Fire Radio Dispatcher I: Dispatchers started working shifts, rotating between days and evenings. They continue to monitor emergency calls and are creating events in CAD while the FRDII talks to the caller. They are also operating the radio consoles including dispatching units to emergencies with guidance from FRDIIs. • Fire Radio Dispatcher III (Supervisors): Interviews scheduled for later this month. Invites Fire Commissioners to sit in as observers. • Clerk III: Following interviews and assessment process on May 26 & 27, candidate selected. She will begin on July 1st. Operations Division • Brush Fires: From May 16 to 25, 2005, 15 brush fires. Meeting held with Civil Defense on May 25, 2005 to address drought conditions. • Hazardous Materials Technician Training: Sixteen fire fighters will attend the statewide Hazardous Materials Technician Training on June 13 to 24 (chemistry) and July 25 to August 25 (tactics). To be held in Hilo. Prevention Division • FEST Seminar: Fireworks Education and Safety Training (FEST) seminar scheduled for May 17 to 19, 2005. Geared toward code enforcement officials, re: pyrotechnics displays. Training Division • 31st Recruit Class Update: In their second week of the clinical portion for EMT-B. Their graduation scheduled for August 20 at Nani Mau Gardens in Hilo. Invitations will be sent to all Commissioners. • 32nd Fire Fighter Recruit Class: Just finished up their essential portion of training. They are in first responder training this week. FEO Fong explained their upcoming “water week.” • Fire Science: Through the support of the Rural Development Program, Fire Science courses will be starting up in the fall and will be offered free of charge (to be subsidized through grant funding.) • Peer Fitness Recertification Training: FRS Garrett Kim attended retraining on Oahu on May 3 to 7, 2005. Hopefully moving soon on peer fitness program. Volunteer Training Division • Volunteer Chief’s Meeting: Held Saturday, May 14, at 1000, at South Kohala fire station. Thanks to Commissioner Browne for attending. EMS Division Fire Auxiliary Services New Projects/Business • Fire Commission ID Photos: To be scheduled at the July meeting in Hilo. • CERT: Citizens Corp Council formalized and under the direction of Civil Defense. They were briefed on the CERT program at a meeting on June 3. • Hawaii Fire Chief’s Association Conference: On-site meeting held on May 20 with committee members. • Reorganization: With the approval of the FY 2005-06 budget, moving forward with reorganization. Hope to have positions filled by July 31. Employee/Public Relations • EMS Week: Held May 22, 2005 at Liliuokalani Gardens in Hilo. Celebrating 30 years of EMS on the County of Hawaii. Highly successful event, with over 600 participants. In process of finalizing numbers. Donation to be made to a social worker from Hilo battling cancer and toward the Hilo Medical Center emergency room renovation project. • 4th of July Pool Splash: 3rd annual event coordinated by Captain Clint Coloma, to be held on July 4th at NAS pool from 1200. Welcome to attend; potluck event.