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HomeMy WebLinkAbout080906COUNTY OF HAWAII FIRE COMMISSION FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT August 9, 2006 • Introduction of 34' FF Recruit Class Budget • FY 2006/07: Budget approved to include the following new positions: — Account Clerk — Information Systems Analyst IV (Data Systems budget) — Fire Captain (Volunteer Training) Partial year beginning October — FEO (Driver Trainer) Partial year beginning October — Battalion Chief (Special Operations) — Part Time Projects Manager Also received $79,308 for Maintenance Section equipment purchases. Maintenance Shop working on specs. Alternative Funding and Grants • FEMA FY 2005 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: Chief signed bid award form identifying recommended vendor. • FEMA FY 2004 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: FEO Mike Hayashida obtained information from Draeger that burn trailer is scheduled to be completed by end of September 2006 with delivery during October. • FEMA FY 2006 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: No word on our grant application, re: purchase of wildland fire safety shoes for all fire fighters. Approximately $63,000 plus $12,000 County match. • Department of Transportation -Safe Highways Grant: Submitted application for road safety system (generators, lights, banners). Total grant application $30,000. AC Mento acknowledged FEO Christian Wong for his research and input on this grant proposal. Capital Improvement Projects • Makalei Fire Station: Architects Hawaii fee proposal received and accepted at $347,425. Proposal will identify stages for pre -construction phase of project. Work will begin once contract is finalized by Public Works. Pahoa Fire Station: Low bid was Isemoto Contracting at $4.8 million. Allotment request submitted & approved for $4.8 million. • Fire Administration & Support Facility: Design consultant selected (Anbe, Aruga & Ishizu Architects, Inc.) They will now put together a fee proposal. $1.0 million has been earmarked for design cost. Central Fire Station: Housing and Community Development Corp of Hawaii board approved transfer of land to County. Are now awaiting Federal HUD approval of "change of site use" from housing to public facility. • Central Fire Station Retrofit Protect: Contractor assembling/purchasing material prior to actual start of repair work. Contractor will receive Notice to Proceed (NTP) prior to start of repairs from Dept of Public Works. • Paauilo Volunteer Fire Station: Design funds are not available; however, Public Works - Highways has included our requirements in their design contract. Promotions and Hiring • Internal Recruitments: Active recruits include: Fire Prevention Inspector: Completed assessments for Fire Inspector I positions. Three candidates were selected for promotion effective August 16: 2 West Hawaii and 1 in East Hawaii. Fire Equipment Operator/Captain: Still working on assignments and coordinating transfer needs. Will be based on critical department needs. • Open Recruitments: Firefighter Recruit: 34th class began on July 3. Fire Radio Dispatchers: Four new dispatchers started their training on July 17, 2006. They are on district familiarizations today and unable to be here. Emergency Operations Division Support Services Division Auxiliary Services: • We have begun the training, fit -testing and distribution of new MSA SCBA units in East Hawai'i. The training, fit -testing and distribution of the West Hawai'i units were completed in June. We have begun the distribution of new automatic external defribrillators. The AEDs will be placed in inventory on all line Fire Engines. The AEDs that are being replaced will be redistributed on a schedule yet to be determined. Two of our fire mechanics have completed Mako Compressor service training in Florida. The training was organized through a partnership with L. N. Curtis and Sons, Ltd. We are now able to service our Mako compressors (used to fill our SCBA and SCUBA tanks) without the use of outside contractors. Glen Maesato and Captain Honda recently returned from Wisconsin; they did the final inspection of fire engines for Volcano and Kalaoa Fire Stations. We should be receiving another Type 42 Engine from the State DLNR-Forestry and Wildlife soon. This will be the third we have been given this year. EMS Bureau: We have not yet received the 15 laptops we ordered for our Medics; but, they are due to arrive this week (Aug 7-11). These laptops will support Patient Care Reporting (PCR) software that will replace our paper ambulance report forms. Members of the RMS committee are slated to go to Oahu to see how the City and County of Honolulu uses their PCR. Training Bureau: The 34th recruit class is half way through Firefighting Essentials and continue to do well. They are in their 6th week. The 33rd recruits are completing their EMT I clinical rotation and are slated to graduate on August 18, 5:00 p.m., at the Mokuola Ballroom, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. Captain Honda, Captain Gerald Kosaki, and Fire Equipment Operator Sean Sommers are closer to being ICS instructors with their recent attendance and completion of the Train the Trainer for ICS held in Honolulu on July 24-27 2006. A survey of our personnel will take place and the appropriate training delivered, either by use of the Virtual Campus of the National Fire Academy or direct delivery within the department. Prevention Bureau: • Assisted Liquor inspectors in enforcing occupancy codes in Kona (8/2/06) at Lulu's and Hilo (8/3/06) at Shooter's Bar & Grill for the highly publicized "Girls Gone Wild" filming. Admission was affected as maximum occupancy was reached at both locations. New Projects/Business Project Lifesaver: Week long training held June 26 to 30. Five of our personnel certified as instructors. Project Lifesaver is a non-profit organization from Virginia; program provides radio transmission devices for persons with Alzheimers and dementia. They have a 100% success rate. We got involved through contact by the East Hawaii Disabilities Council; Dr. Holschuh provided funding for training and equipment. Rescue companies equipped with equipment and will be training personnel at their stations. Program will be slowly evolving. Follow-up meeting to be held on August 21. Fire Science (Rural Development Program): Four classes planned for fall semester fire science: Introduction to Wildland Fire Control, Incident Command & Disaster Control, Essentials of Fire Suppression, and Fire Hydraulics. Open to public; tuition waived for this semester. • Emergency Response Academy: Program began July 3rd in Pahala; Captain Gahan picked up as their lead instructor. Program success and credit goes to our staff who get involved. Ocean Safety: Continuing to meet and confer regarding the incorporation of Ocean Safety into the Fire Department. On track to implement FY 07/08. Employee/Public Relations • 41h of JUIV Pool Splash: Thanks to Captain Ted VanGelder and personnel at Station 2 for a fun day at the pool. Everyone had a good time. • Fire Department Annual Fishing Tournament: Held July 15 in Kona. 30 boats entered. Tournament won by Fire Fighter Vern Hara (Kailua station) who caught several large ahis. This year's tournament coordinated by last year's winners (Captain Lester Inouye, FEO Garret Komatsu). • Relief Association East/West Family Get Together: Held the following day (July 15) at old Kona airport. Fellowship get-together and softball tournament, which East Hawaii firefighters won. Potluck followed. Sponsored by Relief Association and coordinated by FF Darren Shimaoka. • 5` annual KTA/HIUW Bag Brigade to be held in upcoming months. In first four years, a total of $18,802.49 raised for HIUW. • 33rd Fire Fighter Recruit Class Graduation: To be held August 18, at 5:00 p.m. at the Mokuola Ballroom, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. Thanks to Commissioner Maedo for attending and speaking on behalf of the Fire Commission. Laurie has tickets if any Commissioners would like to attend.