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Home My WebLink About2011-02-08FIRE COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 8, 2011 Budget: • FY 2011/12 Budget - Met with Finance on January 10, 2011. - County will be facing a $50 million deficit. - Asked to resubmit an additional 10% from our budget. We were able to come up with a 6.9% cut. We maintained unfunded positions, and reduced other budget items with minimal anticipated impact ot service delivery. Will continue to ask our staff to reduce overtime and encourage more use of utility vehicles to reduce mileage claims. - March 1st is deadline for Mayor to submit his budget to Council. - Department meeting with Council tentatively scheduled for March 28 at 1330.. Alternative Funding and Grants: • FEMA FY 2008 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: (Health/wellness program). Program continues. Peer fitness instructor refresher held February 1 and 2. • FEMA FY 2009 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: (254 turn out coats and 251 pants). • Received 138 (Vol. FF) sets & 103 (Ops.) sets on January 6, 2011 • Began distribution of Ops. sets the week of January 10th – less than 5% returned due to wrong sizing • Volunteer FF distribution began on the week of January 31st • Order for the remaining sets (13 jackets & 10 pants) will be completed by the week of February 14th • Extra sets (5 pants & 3 jackets) will be ordered after approval of expenditure of excess funds - $5,000 • Working with the Fire Prevention Bureau on expenditure of excess funds - $22,000 - 2 - • FY 2009 Assistance to Fire Fighters Fire Station Construction (Makalei). Bid advertisement on 12/23/10 with bid opening postponed for about two weeks (should have been 2-3-11) As soon as we are at groundbreaking stage, will inform all Commissioners. • FY 2010 Assistance to Fire Fighters SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response). In communication with SAFER office as we got typical favorable initial review e-mail. Working with County Administration to ensure they will take over funding in Year 3. Successful award will result in 20 positions. • FY 2010 CDBG – Tanker/Tender – Pahala Fire. Bid for Ka’u District 2000 Gallon Tanker Apparatus awarded to Freedom Fire Equipment from Marietta, GA. AC Rosario and Maesato are presently there for pre- construction meeting. • FY 2011 CDBG – Fire Apparatus – Pahoa Fire. Submitted proposal packet for fire protection apparatus on January 6, 2011. Should receive notification sometime in April 2011. Per Housing, they are supporting project but will not be able to confirm until they get word on HUD funding in Mar/April. Our grant application is for $600,000. • FY 2010 DOT Highway Safety Grant: Received notification of $24,000 award for vehicle extrication training. Presently completing paperwork that will release funding for project. Capital Improvement Projects: • Makalei Fire Station: Bid for construction phase. • Administration & Support Facility: Looking for alternative sites for dispatch. If we cannot get Mohouli site, need to push to look for alternatives. • Central Fire Station: Mayor’s office still supporting project. Continue to with HUD on this project. • Kawailani Fire Station: Looking at alternative sites and property owned by the State. - 3 - • Ka’u Public Safety Package: Public Works finalizing bids to erect buildings for two volunteer garages. Thanks to Commissioner Stabo for reviewing the Pahala garage project with Chief and Ron Eber of Pahala Volunteers on 2/1_. Funding from this public safety package will also include a lifeguard tower at Punaluu. • Paauilo: No new updates. • DPW ADA Compliance, HazMat Abatement: ▪ Laupahoehoe – No changes, awaiting delivery & installation of “missile” impact windows – est. date of completion April 2011 ▪ Honokaa – completed ▪ Waimea – 75% completed. Waiting on delivery & installation of “missile” impact windows – est. date of completion March 2011. Two (2) interior doors (change order) need to be approved and installed – unknown date of completion. Photovoltaic system not completed. ▪ North Kohala – ADA ramp completed, earthquake repairs on engine apparatus floor completed. Work in progress on ADA restroom – fixtures being installed. Ambulance bay header raised to accommodate “new” medic height clearance. Estimated completion February 2011 • Pohoiki Radio Re-Location: No new updates; still awaiting results of second wind load analysis based on resubmitted antenna specifications. Promotions and Hiring: Open-Competitive Recruitments: • Fire Fighter Recruits: Medical screenings are continuing for candidates. Internal Recruitments: No active recruitments at this time. Emergency Operations Bureau • Received three 3 hand held GPS units, which were donated to our Kailua, Keauhou and Captain Cook stations. - 4 - • Hazmat Company 21 (N. Kona) performed a Plume Modeling Drill for a simulated Anhydrous Ammonia Leak at the Makai Ocean Engineering NELHA Facility. • Completed training of Pahoa Firefighter personnel in the operation of the Departments 3000 gallon fire apparatus water tanker currently assigned to Station-1, Central. Effective February 1st, the apparatus will be relocated to Station-10, Pahoa. This will accomplish better response to the Puna area and Ka’u area which have known water supply problems. Support Services Division EMS Bureau: • On January 6th three new ambulances arrived in Hilo. The ambulances will serve the communities of South Kohala, North Kohala and Naalehu. • Two Firefighters attended MICT Class orientation on Oahu at the KCC Campus. Class started on January 10th with a new format with the didactics and clinical portion of the training being completed on Oahu, and the Internship phase being done back on the Big Island. Students are due back in mid June 2011. • Field testing of 12 lead EKG transmissions (STEMI) was successfully completed by Medic-1 to HMC ER. Protocols with HMC soon to be implemented. • On January 7th, one more student successfully completed the MICT program with KCC. He is currently waiting to receive his temporary State license. • On January 14th, met with Patricia O’Hagan, Health Academic Programs Dean with KCC. Training issues as well as, viable options to obtaining the necessary pre-requisite for the EMS program were discussed. • 18 FF’s successfully passed their EMT - I National Registry skills testing on Oahu on January 16th. - 5 - • A six month review of the Pro-QA Alpha response protocol was completed with AMR. Valuable data was collected and evaluated. It was determined that the program is functioning as designed, with program objectives being met. Training Bureau: • 39th Recruit Class completed the classroom portion, written exams, pre-trip inspection, and closed course portion of driver training. They received their driving permits and will begin on the road driving in February. • January 16, the 39th Recruit Class flew to Oahu for their EMT-I skills testing. Volunteer Training Section • Recertified 150 volunteer FF for use of AED. • Presently distributing new PPE for volunteers. Prevention Bureau • In process of developing and updating some forms, which are being used as a model across the state. • Training continues for three new Inspectors. • Kona Fire Prevention Bureau office will be moving to the West Hawaii Civic Center on February 14-15. Auxiliary Services: Communication Section Distribution Center: • On January 6, PPE from Honeywell delivered. 136 sets for the Volunteers, 83 sets for the Paid Firefighters. • Distribution of new PPE for staff. - 6 - Maintenance Shop: New Vehicles HFD 510 – 2011 Dodge 4500 Ambulance -Medic 11 HFD 511 – 2011 Dodge 4500 Ambulance – Medic 15 HFD 512 – 2011 Dodge 4500 Ambulance – Medic 14 Three above ambulances awaiting EMS radio installation, opticom programming and final detailing before going in service. New Projects/Business: • Helicopter Contract: new contract on Feb 1—two new vendors. C-2 maintenance by K&S in Kona. (Cal Dorn). On C-1 is Manuiwa, (David Okita). Rotor Wing no longer service provider. Seamless transition as far as operations • 2011 Legislature: With the start of the 2011 legislature, monitoring various fireworks bills, government operations, and fire related bills. • 39th Fighter Recruit Class Commencement: Friday, February 25, 1100, Sandalwood Room, Naniloa Resort. Invitations were mailed to all Commissioners. Employee/Public Relations • Hilo Start! Heart Walk and Health Fair: ✓ Saturday, February 26, 0800, Liliuokalani Gardens ✓ All Commissioners invited to participate. Contact Laurie for more information or pledge packet. - EMS Week: Planning is already underway for 2011 EMS Week, to be held Sunday, May 29, at Liliuokalani Gardens.