HomeMy WebLinkAbout080807HAWAII FIRE COMMISSION
FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT
August 8, 2007
• Introduction of 36t" Fire Fighter Recruit Class
• Introduction of Battalion Chiefs Ralph Yawata, Aaron Arbles
• Introduction of Special Operations BC Clint Coloma
• Introduction of Captains Chris Stelfox and John Kapsky of Ocean Safety
Budget
FY 2007/08 Budget:
Budget approved by Council and in effect as of July 1. List of what we received:
- Unfunds 3 Fire Fighter positions
- Transfers Ocean Safety to Fire Department (42 WSO positions, 1 Account
Clerk)
- $89,000 CERT Instructions Island Wide
- $86,000 for beds, stoves, refrigerators
- Warehouse renovation $20,000
- PPE program $260,000
- Safety shoe program $40,000
- Two rescue apparatus $1,060,000
FY 2007/08 budget disseminated to Commissioners.
Alternative Funding and Grants
FEMA FY 2005 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: (Plymo-Vent) All stations have
been retrofitted with system. Only thing waiting for is tailpipe adapters on some
engines. Need to go back to those stations and make sure it releases appropriately
and tailpipes operate correctly.
• FEMA FY 2004 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: (Burn Trailer) No new
developments. (Still awaiting MOU from State Department of Transportation to relocate
trailer to former airport site.)
• FEMA FY 2006 Fire Prevention & Safety Grant: Received notification on July 10, 2007
that our application was not funded. (Per panel scores, application generally good and
above average; however, they received many proposals that centered on the use of
educational props.
Panelists did not rate our proposal as high as it rated other proposals that contained
the same project. Since FEMA maintains the program goal of funding a variety of
projects and diversifying the location of them, not able to fund our project at this time
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• FEMA FY 2007 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: Status quo. (Submitted our grant
application on May 3rd for video teleconferencing equipment. Grant total request is for
$327,600 to purchase VTS equipment for 15 of our 20 fire stations (5 stations do not
have basic technical capability to accommodate VTS), Training, Dispatch, and
Administration.)
• State Department of Transportation Highway Safety Grant: Status quo. (Submited
grant proposal to acquire three electronic message boards. Total grant application
$29,500. Notification to be made in August or September.)
Capital Improvement Projects
• Makalei Fire Station: Met with design consultant and property owner on August 2,
2007. Resolved issues that have been holding up design.
• Pahoa Fire Station: Construction continuing. Foundation has been laid and framing of
apparatus floor and living quarters is proceeding.
• Fire Administration & Support Facility: Design contract awarded. Awaiting contact from
design consultants to begin preliminary discussions on this project.
• Central Fire Station: Received preliminary approval from Finance to request for funding
for the full Environmental Assessment.
• Central Fire Station Retrofit Project: Main exterior roof work is completed as well as
the upstairs interior plaster and paint. The hose tower door scheduled for installation
this week. Awating DPW approval for changes to interior plaster work and painting in
the kitchen and dining room, as well as completion of the gutter work.
• Captain Cook: Design work ongoing.
• Keaau: Met with Mayor, Finance and Police on July 23, 2007 to discuss site of Keaau
Fire/Police complex. Actively looking for property for replacement Keaau station.
• Honokaa: No site has been identified, however this project has been identified as a
priority CIP project.
• Paauilo Volunteer Station: No new developments.
Promotions and Hiring
Active recruits include:
Open -Competitive Recruitment
• 37t" Recruit Class: COMPASS and interviews have been scheduled for the first
week in October.
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• Water Safety Officer I: Recruitment for 2 temporary positions. Would like to
eventually convert part time positions to full time.
Fire Radio Dispatcher I: Received certification list to fill 2 positions.
Interviews/assessments will be conducted later this month.
Internal Recruitment
• Battalion Chiefs (Prevention Bureau
an administrative review this month.
Proiected Retirements
Closed on July 30, 2007. Will be conducting
• Report passed out to Commissioners which indicate we have 26 employees with
25+ years of service as of 2007.
Emergency Operations Division
Support Services Division
Auxiliary Services Bureau:
• Welcome aboard new FASO BC Michael Gahan. He is attending a Live Burn
Demonstration as presented by Waterous and Burton's Fire on Kauai today. BC
Gahan received instruction on procedures of EOC and how it works with Fire
Dispatch, Instruction on RMS for Supervisors, Supervisory Principals, Basic Fire
Radio Communication
Warehouse Section
• Working on new warehouse protocol for operations personnel. Protocol involves
warehouse scheduling, and supply request procedures for new BC.
• Received and sent out two projectors to Volunteer Captains to facilitate training
• Received and sent out 20 portable generators for use on fire apparatus as part of
2007 State Highways Safety Grant.
• Received and sent out 20 Telescoping halogen lights as part of 2007 State
Highways Safety Grant.
• Established PPE Committee to help with the purchasing of 240 new PPE's. The
goal is to provide all operational personnel Capt. and below with two sets of Turnout
gear. The objective is to provide the department with a good set of turnouts for the
least amount of money. Actions taken thus far is to gather information. Met with
vendor and view product. Committee to provide department with specs to help
purchase these products.
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Maintenance Shop Section:
• Mechanics doing PlymoVent upfit project.
EMS Bureau:
• Battalion Chief Yawata working with a committee to develop specifications for three
new medics for purchase this fiscal year.
• Station 20 received a new EKG through donation from Ocean View Community
Association.
Inspection Bureau:
• Received and processed 10 agricultural burn permit applications.
Training Bureau:
Operations Section
Recruit Training:
34th Recruit Class- 13 recruits completed Tactics and Strategies section of Haz Mat
class on July 16-27. All are now certified Haz Mat Techs. Effective August 1, all 34th
recruits given new station assignments.
35th Recruit Class- Written Final and Practical Skills Exam for EMT-B will be
administered the week of July 30- August 3. EMT-B clinical to commence on August
5 utilizing Medics 1,3,5,7,10, and 12 as well as Hilo Medical Center and Kona
Community Hospital.
• 36th Recruit class- First day of recruit training commenced on July 16 with 17
recruits. One recruit voluntarily resigned on July 23. Another recruit has been out
since July 17 for dehydration and cardio testing. A third recruit has been out since
July 23 for a sinus infection and first degree cardio block.
Volunteer Section
Report by Tom Brandt.
New Projects/Business
Explorer Program: 12 students will be completed the Explorer program on
Saturday, August 4. They will participated in a drill program at the airport drill site
on Leleaoa Street, followed by a potluck luncheon at the Training Room. Pilot six -
week program successful.
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FF Recruitment Numbers: As requested by Commissioner Pomroy, per Department
of Human Resources, they received 525 applications for the current FFR open
recruitment.
• EOC: Arranged for Administrator Troy Kindred to provide overview of EOC to
Commissioners following meeting.
Employee/Public Relations
5th Annual Employees & Awards Dinner: Event to be held on Friday, August 17 at Hilo
Meishoin.
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