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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-06-08FIRE COMMISSION MEETING JUNE 8, 2011 • WELCOME TO FIRE COMMISSIONER LAURIE BASS (DISTRICT 1) Budget: FY 2011/12 Budget • Budget is presently with Mayor Kenoi after Council approved it on June 1st with some amendments. Alternative Funding and Grants: • FEMA FY 2009 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: (254 turn out coats and 251 pants). Awaiting approval on our grant amendment to use excess funds to purchase a portable fire extinguisher training system and implement a smoke detection installation program for seniors. • FY 2010 Assistance to Fire Fighters SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response). No new updates. • FY 2010 CDBG – Tanker/Tender – Pahala Fire. Delay in delivery of apparatus as manufacturer still waiting for chassis to come from Peter Built. • FY 2011 CDBG – Fire Apparatus – Pahoa Fire. No new updates; still awaiting HUD release of funds to determine amount of funding that will be awarded. • FY 2011 DOT Highway Safety Grant: FEO Neil Yoshioka working on a training schedule with the instructor, who will be providing us with extrication tools following the training. • FY 2012 DOT Highway Safety Grant: No new updates. Submitted for $12,802.74 to purchase pediatric spinal immobilization boards for our medic units, which will allow us to better protect and treat the injured pediatric patient. Capital Improvement Projects: • Makalei Fire Station: Construction of the Makalei Fire Station began with the issuance of the Notice to Proceed on April 28, 2011. The contractor has obtained the necessary permits for the project. Excavation of the site commenced April 28, 2011. Excavation continues today and there is still quite a bit of excavation yet to be done. Excavated material is being used at the Ane Keaheolole Highway project, another of the County’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funded projects. • Administration & Support Facility: No new updates. • Central Fire Station: No new updates. • Kawailani Fire Station: No new updates. • Ka’u Public Safety Package: No new updates. • Paauilo: No new updates. • DPW ADA Compliance, HazMat Abatement: ✓ Waimea – Two (2) interior doors need to be relocated. Missile impact doors need to be installed. Photovoltaic system not started yet. ✓ Central Station / Dispatch – working with DPW & architect on final draft plans – no start date set yet • Pohoiki Radio Re-Location: No new updates. Project moving; antennas installed at new site and we hope to be live soon. Promotions and Hiring: Open-Competitive Recruitments: • Water Safety Officer 1 (Temp): Temporary for summer months. Three new hires began on June 1, 2011 for South Hilo. • WSO I Temp: Temporary not to exceed six months. Targeted hire date July 1st. Internal Recruitments: • WSO II ½ time: Internal recruitment process initiated. Will fill with transfer. • Fire Radio Dispatcher III: Assessment Center conducted on May 26 & 27. Selection pending. Targeted hire date is July 1, 2011. • Fire Emergency Medical Services Specialist III: Assessment center scheduled on June 23 and 24, 2011 (from 7:45 a.m., all day) at various conference rooms at the County Building. Fire Commissioners welcomed to participate in assessment center but will need to be present for entire process. • Fire Rescue Specialist/Fire Hazardous Materials Specialist/Fire Equipment Operator/Fire Captain: Internal recruitment process initiated. • Fire Communications Supervisor: Internal recruitment process initiated. Emergency Operations Bureau • 3 Battalion Chiefs and 4 T/A to Battalion Chief qualified Fire Captains participated in a 1 week Incident Command System S420 Course by the National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) team out of Atlanta. The course provided the Regular Battalion Chiefs with additional knowledge and training in assuming the roles of Planning Officer, Logistics Officer, and Finance Officer in the Incident Command System of management for Emergency Incidents. The Course provided the T/A qualified Fire Captains with extensive knowledge and training in the role as the Incident Commander or Operations Officer for Emergency Incidents. All attendees agreed that the course challenged their minds, put them out of normal comfort zones, and greatly added to their knowledge of the Incident Command System. • 78 personnel who are qualified as Hazardous Material Technicians participated in their annual refresher certification course put on by Dr. Bowen. The course covered required core requirements of education identified by the NFPA and OSHA 910.120 regulations. The remaining 53 certified Hazardous Material Technicians will complete their refresher in June. • Fire Companies 21 and 7 participated, along with Fire Administration personnel, in the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Makalei Fire Station Number 21. The station will provide for protection of North Kona as well as Hazardous Material response for the 2nd Battalion. • In conjunction with the Support Services Division, a Volunteer Firefighter “Ride Along Program” was implemented. HFD Volunteer FFs may request to the Fire Chief interest in participating in the program which will enable them to shadow the career FF Companies. • 1st Battalion Rescue Companies participated in an Orientation Drill of new Zip Line businesses operating in the Hamakua District. Personnel identified the potential types of long line rope rescue requirements for the various areas along the Zip Line trail. Landing Zones were identified for the use of Chopper 1 and 2 for potential operational needs. • 2nd Battalion Rescue Companies participated in Boat Operation familiarization drills and Dive Operation drills along the West Hawaii Coastline. They identified new response capabilities and limitations with the refurbished Rescue Boat 7-7 which has new motors as well. They also participated in an Ocean Rescue Drill with Chopper-2 at the Hapuna Beach. Special Ops Hazmat: • Currently doing checks on all of the equipment to identify any monitors or equipment that may need to be repaired or replaced. Created a spreadsheet for the stations to assist with ease of tracking. • Baseline medical screening proposal sent in for approval for all of our hazmat personnel. • Received the approval to purchase 4 multi Raes with PID capability with 2 Rae link 3 and docking calibration systems. Rescue: • Implementation of the ACC program will commence on June 1, 2011. • Currently signing up clients that are on the waiting list for Project Lifesaver. Working with the HCOA to promote the program in the community. • Some equipment funded by the Sayre foundation will soon be purchased. Working with Laura Mallery-Sayre on these purchases. • Completed an annual rescue training program to identify the core requirements of the program. This identified both on and off duty training. Revised the training schedule based on the consultation with the rescue captains, F-1, and AC-1 and is awaiting approval for implementation. Ocean Safety: • We are currently working toward the erecting of the Punaluu tower. The location of the tower needed to be changed. We may be getting a parcel of land from Mr. Dahlberg to erect our tower. Awaiting the approval to obtain the parcel through a letter submitted to F-1. • Put in a request for new surveyor towers for the north end of Hapuna overlooking the beach fronting the Hapuna Prince Hotel and for Punalu’u beach. Hapuna Surveyor tower has been approved using fair share funds and am working on the necessary permits. • Awaiting the arrival of a new ATV for Hapuna • WSO Foster is still working on light duty with Capt. Stelfox at the KCAC. She has been very instrumental in completing the beach logs on the all battalions folder. Her current PMD note carries her through August 1, 2011. • Sayre purchased 4 rescue boards, 8 megaphones, and 4 binoculars. Awaiting 2 AEDs and 13 AED cases. All will have logos put on and then a special presentation will be scheduled. Support Services Division EMS Bureau: • On May 1st, the QA and Charting standards were put into effect. • Assisted with the coordination of resources for the North Hawaii Community Hospital MCI drill involving unexploded ordinance on a school ground on May 11th. • The week of May 9th to the 13th, FMS Jesse Ebersole (ePCR Committee Chairperson) attended the Zoll Summit conference to research ePCR software options and potential pilot projects. FMS Ebersole provided a detailed report of the conference to include potential grant funding opportunities. Valuable networking and contacts were established and a pilot project proposal is in now motion. • On May 13, attended HTAC meeting on Oahu. The Department of Health Injury Prevention Branch discussed the Fall Prevention pilot project for the Big Island. • MICT Interns successfully completed MICT 200 on May 13th. Interns are now on clinical and will do their first two internship rotations on Oahu. • Attended Keonepoko, Kahakai, Waiakeawaena and Hilo Union Schools EMS Week Poster Contest awards ceremonies and participated in the awards presentation. • On May 31st, assisted with HeartSaver CPR and AED training for the West Hawaii Civic Center employees. Training Bureau: • May 12 & 13: We hosted a Strategy and Tactics for Initial Company Operations class (NFA off site course). • May 9 & 12: hazmat refresher training held at the State Building. • May 2 to 6: the 40th Recruit Class completed wildland training. • 40th Recruit Class completed First Responder course. Volunteer Training Section • Report by Volunteer Chief Tom Brandt for report. Prevention Bureau • Conducted 5 fire investigations. • Conducted 52 business inspections. • Inventoried and inspected 4 public fireworks display sites. • Reviewed 58 non-residential plan submittals. • Participating in the planning process as the safety officer for the 4th of July, Hilo Bay festivities sponsored by the Parks and Recreation department. • Addressed the “open flame and cooking” regulations with various farmers market vendors and operators. • Met with Jay Ueda from the Kona Village resort to discuss the upgrades needed to get their establishment up to fire code compliancy. • Participating in the upcoming “Mayors Health Fest” hosted by the Parks and Rec. • Met with the developers of the proposed Mohouli Senior Housing project. • Met with Department of Ag and Hau’ula farms representatives in Pahala to discuss the Coffee borer pest issue and different ways to dispose of the infected trees. I was supposedly brought in to be the “Fire” expert. • Conducted another “burn rate” test at station 1 using fuel pads from 2 different Aerial luminary devices. • Conducted a fireworks storage site inspection in Kailua-Kona. • Conducted a Fire extinguisher class with the ADRC. • Participated in a DOH meeting to discuss our fire hazard concerns in commercial kitchen areas. • Assisted the Salvation Army, Family intervention services in inspecting 2 of their sites. One in Hilo and the other in Honoka’a. Auxiliary Services: Communication: • 5/11: BC Gahan met with Jeremy Tanaka of PWC to get insight into issues with the new Telex System and how it interfaces with the rest of our dispatch center equipment. • 5/18: We received dispatch furniture set up suggestions from dispatch and passed on suggestions to Steve Stoffer of Alcatel and Tammie Antonio from DPW drafting department. The suggestion received take into consideration ADA compliance and dispatcher safety. We have received return input and drawings of possible configuration of furniture in fire dispatch from Tammie and Steve. • 5/24: FASO attended radio up grade committee meeting. Meeting covered the project deliverable, and the project status. The project status identified the radio site baseline, radio system roadmap, and the conceptual design. • 5/25: General Contractor Chitchiro Inaba in fire dispatch to measure dispatch for size and dimensions for baseline assessment of dispatches ADA compliance needs for future construction / renovations of dispatch. • 5/31: FASO attended State medicom radio inter face meeting with PWC representatives, State EMS, County EMS, Police, Fire, and Civil Defense representation. Topic of meeting was to intergraded present radio system with up graded medico system. Solution to upgrade was to present States proposal to our Radio Up Grade Project Manager from Scientel before we intergraded. Distribution Center: • 5/5: FASO attended meeting with Carlos Sweeney of Burton Fire. Carlos request FASO give him a heads up when bids go out and he is always available to serve us. • 5/10: FASO gathered a presented specifications for equipment needed to replenish fire department supplies and equipment. New Projects/Business: Employee/Public Relations • EMS Week: Successful event with over 800 participants. Thanks to Commisioner Laurie Bass for participating.