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Home My WebLink About12-14-05COUNTY OF HAWAII FIRE COMMISSION FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT December 14, 2005 • Chief Oliveira on Oahu attending State Fire Council meeting as well as HFFA negotiation hearings on December 14/15. • Presentation of leis and gifts to Fire Commissioners Dale Fergerstrom and Rudy Hart. Both Commissioners began as part of the original Fire Commission in 2001 and will be missed. Thank you for their dedication and service. Budget • FY 2006/07: Status quo Program Budget submittal of $28,300,150. Emphasize that although program budget submittal is status quo, allowances for increases for inflationary costs allowed; i.e., fuel and utilities. Presentation to Fire Commission on FY 2006/07 supplemental budget submittal (one page overview provided to them). Our supp budget submittal is based on priorities in concert with our strategic plan. Although there are facilities that require maintenance issues, we work with Public Works in addressing those needs. Alternative Funding and Grants • FEMA FY 2005 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: Fire Fighters Neil Yoshioka and Gene Nakashima are going to various stations to assess needs, and will be making recommendations on our requirements and needs. Grant award is for $507,520 (Federal share 80% or $406,016; County share 20% or $101,504). On November 22, acceptance of grant money was approved by the County Council. • FEMA FY 2004 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: Chief Oliveira, Department of Finance, and Deputy Corporation Counsel Craig Masuda attended an appeal hearing on December 1 on Oahu. Kidde Fire Trainers filed protest and appealing award. This may delay process. Being handled by Department of Finance. Four vendors bid on award (awarded to Draeger Safety). Good experience in that we need to start looking at how “we” write bid specs. Corporation Counsel assisting in research. Emphasize that “we” refers not just to the fire department, but County departments who are involved in the process. • 2006 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): Assistant Chief Quince Mento working to submit our two grant proposals: 1) replacement apparatus for Pahoa Fire Station; and 2) tanker for Pahala fire station. Our submittals are due in early January 2006. Capital Improvement Projects • Pahoa Fire Station: Final plans being routed to departments for comments. We have made a change in the apparatus bay height to 14 feet clearance. • Fire Administration & Support Facility: No new developments to report. Nick AhYo continues to work on data for dispatch and training. Funding will be available after January 2006 for design. • Kalaoa Fire Station: Nick AhYo and Roy Takemoto from Planning Department met with Dan Bolton. A new project manager has been assigned; cost data is due from him by the first week of January 2006. Bolton has informed us that he no longer has a fair share contribution fee due to him selling property, and the cost of the site must be added into the total cost of the project. We are investigating the legal impact of this change on the project and will request Planning to determine land value. Additional land cost may jeopardize this project. • Central Fire Station: Nothing new to report. (Reported last month: The Mayor’s Office is handling the site acquisition (Lanikila, 1.5 acres at makai side of Wailoa and Ululani Street). We will pick up this project after site acquisition. • Central Fire Station-Retrofit Project: Design plans being printed for distribution and comments. County Council passed second reading for funding of $390,000 for project. Along the repairs needed at Central, recently their second apparatus bay door went out of service due to a malfunction. There are numerous station renovation and repair needs, but we need to prioritize them based on the impact of service delivery. Unfortunately, as a result, sometimes other purchases and repairs of lesser priority need to be postponed. • Paauilo Volunteer Fire Station: No new developments since last report. (Finance Department has given us approval on five acres at this site and allowed pursuit of funding.) Promotions and Hiring • Internal Recruitments: Emergency Operations Division • Emergency Operations Division: Completed the implementation of our reorganization with the promotion of six Captains to Battalion Chiefs effective December 1, 2005. They will be introduced at next month’s meeting. • Brush Fires: Per AC Murasaki, four recent and ongoing brush fires: • Kuakini/Hualalai: 15 to 20 acres. BC Millare requested a payloader (back hoe) to segregate and open up some of the burning logs. • Cane Haul Road, Pahala: 10 acres. Started in remote area about 2 miles above Pahala town. Presently conducting aerial reconnaissance. • Wood Valley, Ka’u: 3-5 acres. Brush fire spotted by responding unit enroute to Cane Haul Road brush fire from Highway 11. Fire extinguished. Conducting aerial reconnaissance. • Maile Street, Pahala: 5 acres. Presently concentrating on this fire. This fire sited by HFD personnel who were working on Cane Haul Road fire. Scene is full of discarded automobiles, making it difficult for fire crews to access fire area. Utilizing recruits and 5 personnel on recall. Have conducted a break around all fires. Although cause has not yet been determined, all fires are suspicious in nature. Support Services Division (AC Mento will provide report). Prevention Bureau • New Years Fireworks: This year, fireworks permits will not be sold at retail stores and only available at three sites islandwide (Hilo, Kona and Waimea). Last 2 years, we partnered with vendors in allowing them selling permits. Was highly successful both from our department’s standpoint as well as retail vendors (one-stop-shop). One of other jurisdictions didn’t appreciate what we did. We are working with State legislatures to try to change legislation. Training Bureau • 33rd Fire Fighter Recruit Class: Will begin their driver training segment next week, which will take them through January. • 32nd Fire Fighter Recruit Class: Presently doing the classroom portion of EMT-I for the next two weeks. Will thereafter be on the medics. Volunteer Training Section EMS Bureau • EMS Service Provider Meeting Auxiliary Services New Projects/Business • Hawaii Fire Chiefs Association Conference: Thanks to Fire Commissioners who supported our conference (attended by James Browne, Karen Kudlo, and Karen Maedo; Wil Okabe and Glen Matsuda purchased shirts/caps). Conference was a tremendous success. Received many favorable comments. Interactive vendor presentations were also well received. Ask Fire Commissioners who participated (Browne, Kudlo, Maedo) for their comments. • Fire Science – Spring 2006: Recently announced to our personnel that two more classes will be offered at the Hawaii Community College for the Spring 2006 semester: Fire Operations in the Wildland/Urban Interface and Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior. Each class is for 3 credits. The student’s registration fee is again being funded through the Rural Development Program grant. During the Fall 2005 semester, which just ended on December 6, a total of 19 firefighters attended the class Incident Command and Disaster Control. All students passed and will receive 3 credits. Employee/Public Relations • 4th Annual Great Tricycle Race to benefit East Hawaii Coalition for the Homeless held on November 26, 2005. Unfortunately Fire Admin did not prevail. • Holiday Decorations at County Building: County departments have again decorated the County Building and held a holiday open house last evening. • Station Decorating Contest: The Relief Association is sponsoring a station decorating contest again this year. Judging to take place next week. • Holiday/Retirees Luncheon: Invite all Fire Commissioners to attend a holiday/retirees luncheon on Tuesday, December 27, at our Fire Admin conference room from 1100 to 1300. All retirees (12) will be invited to attend as well as all personnel.