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HomeMy WebLinkAbout101007Page 1 of 5 Pages HAWAII FIRE COMMISSION FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT October 10, 2007 Introduction • Battalion Chief Michael Gahan, promoted to FASO effective June 18, 2007. • BC Pacleb attending a meeting a Public Works, re: islandwide building permit issuance. Budget • FY 2007/08 Budget: All County departments met with Finance Department on September 21, 2007 to receive budget directives for FY 2008/09. Status quo budget submittals with opportunity to submit supplemental budgets. Will be meeting with Division and Bureau heads on October 26. One of big ticket items will look into is to replace Chopper 1. ($1.2 million) Alternative Funding and Grants • FEMA FY 2005 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: (Plymo-Vent) Still confirmed that there are some vehicles that still need retrofit for plymovent. Final project report submitted. • FEMA FY 2004 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: (Burn Trailer) Received request from DOT to clarify some indemnification issues for MOU. Recruit class cleaned road in preparation. • 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.) F-1 understands issue of road closures in West Hawaii; boards will be helpful in reducing traffic hazards as this is a means to keep public better informed. Capital Improvement Projects • Makalei Fire Station: Land issues have been cleared somewhat with the submittal of the letter from GKK Makalei LLC regarding their desire to donate the parcel to the County. Design work is continuing with revised time schedule for completion of design phase as 2/18/08. Survey of area was scheduled for 10/8/07. Letter Page 2 of 5 submitted to Mayor and State DOT regarding proposed fire station access from GKK Makalei LLC. • Pahoa Fire Station: Construction continuing. Framing has been erected and roof panels are being put on. • Fire Administration & Support Facility: Initial site marking apparently begun. Awaiting return call from design consultant to confirm. • Central Fire Station: Awaiting DPW assistance in securing EA consultant. • Central Fire Station Retrofit Project: On 10/9/07, conducted final inspection on project with minor discrepancies that need to be fixed. Punch list of discrepancies to be made by project engineers by next week, but generally, the inspection went well. Plaster work in kitchen and dining room has been deleted from this job. County to re-bid this portion of job or use County carpenters to complete. No completion date as yet. • Captain Cook: Received preliminary design plans for Captain Cook extension for review. Will share with Commissioner Rosehill following meeting. • Keaau: Per Harry Yada, he received a letter from the Kamehameha Schools indicating their interest in partnering with the County to use some of its land for a fire/police facility. Requested that further discussion take place between Fire, Police and Finance regarding a site. Promotions and Hiring Open Competitive Recruitment: • FF Recruit : Agility test held on September 29, 2007; tested top 130 scores. Total of 71 passed. Interviews held October 1-4 for candidates from prior list. Conducted 30 interviews. 37th class scheduled to begin in January, and the 38th class during the summer. • Department of Human Resources will be conducting open-competitive recruitments for two temporary Water Safety Officer I (1/2 Time) positions due to incumbents on temporary assignments to other Water Safety Officer positions. Internal Recruitment • Fire Captain applications have been forwarded to Department of Human Resources for establishment of eligible list. Page 3 of 5 • Two new Fire Radio Dispatcher I’s will be hired on 11/16/07, pending them passing their pre-employment medical exams. Water Safety Officer I Class Specifications • As requested by Commissioner Browne, distributed Class Specifications for Water Safety Officer I position, with the minimum requirements listed on page 2. Emergency Operations Division • Prescribe Burn Project and Training Opportunity: Prescribed Burn Project and Training Opportunity: Unable to burn on September 20 due to weather and fuel moisture content. However, lot of valuable training gained from experience. Tentative new dates is November 5-7. • Emergency Incident Notification: On Sunday, October 7, e-mailed to all personnel emergency incident notification on the recent North Kohala water situation. • Ocean Safety Update by Captain John Kapsky. Support Services Division Auxiliary Services Bureau: Communication: • The FCCC is trying to develop a regular training schedule, including ride alongs and training materials. Dispatch Supervisor Dennis Kaide provided training for the month of September via reading material found. • Dispatchers participated in ride along with Medic 1 at Central. Persons participating were C. Brzezowski, P. Goo, J. Bagamento, K. Yamaguchi. • BC Gahan and BC Yawata attended meeting with MACRO Rep John Eagler to identify any problems with the present EMS communications system. Mr. Eagler also requested the locations of radio repeaters locations for MEDICOM. • Dispatch Supervisor K. Bugado presented power point presentation about how to use 911 to Hilo College. • BC Gahan attended the HGEA joint labor management seminar at Volcano National Parks. • Expanding the Support Services recall for the Warehouse and FCCC to include officers in the Support Division. BC Gahan provided instructions for Emergency Assistance Personnel to help in dispatch during complex emergencies. Page 4 of 5 Warehouse: • Completed draft of new warehouse procedures. • Received 38 new beds for stn. 5, 16, 9, 18. • Issued 250 face shield for the volunteers and 10 set of PPE ’s • Received Refrigerator and Stove for HPP. • For the month of September sent out 142 pieces of equipment and 70 pieces of Personal Protective Gear. Maintenance Shop Section: • Working to determine appropriate resources/personnel, as well as the development of a replacement schedule, during our strategic planning session. EMS Bureau: • MICT Interns (9) returned from Oahu – began 4th & 5th rotations in Hilo & Kona • EMS Supplies Storage Cabinets (15) delivered • Submitted BID for (3) Medics • Recruiting MICT candidates for January 2008 class Inspection Bureau: • All Prevention Bureau personnel attended Uniform Fire Code certification training on Maui Sept. 10-13, 2007. Training Bureau: Operations Section Recruit Training: 35th Recruit Class- There was a family emergency with the lead instructor for EMT. Recruits were sent to different fire stations to run on the medics from September 17 th through October 5th. 36th Recruit class- Recruits successfully completed 40 hour Wildland Firefighting course. They attended the prescribe burn project but were unable to burn due to the high fuel moisture content at the project site. Page 5 of 5 37th Recruit Class- 34 applicants are currently scheduled for interviews during the week of October 1-4. Explorer Program: Second stage of program, engine ride-a-long, has been planed and scheduled for initial Explorer participants. Interviews were conducted on September 27 for second Explorer class which is currently scheduled to begin on October 13. Volunteer Section • Volunteer Training Section status/update report by Captain Clyde Komatsu. • Puuanahulu Blessing & Open House: Saturday, October 27, 2007, 1100 (following Volunteer Chief’s meeting at 1000). • Reminded Commissioners that they should not report violations or conduct type complaints directly to the Volunteer fire fighters. • Report by Noni Sanford. New Projects/Business Employee/Public Relations • Open Forums: Held in September in both West and East Hawaii. Meetings are an opportunity for members to learn of current ongoings in the department. • Fire Prevention Week: To be held on Saturday, October 13, from 0900 to 1300 at Hilo Bayfront. Static displays, demonstration & bucket brigade. Thanks to Commissioner Pomroy for helium tank from Gaspro. Encourage Commissioners to put together a team for the Bucket Brigade event.