HomeMy WebLinkAboutJANUARY MEETING - December ReportCHIEF’S REPORT (01/09/2013)
I. Budget
II. Alternative Funding and Grant
• FY 2012 CDBG Grant for Pahoa Tanker
• FY 2012 SAFER Grant
• FY 2012 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant application
Capital Improvement Projects: A current overview of ongoing
projects may include but not limited to:
• Kawailani Fire Station replacement
• Ka‘u Public Safety Package
• Hapuna Water Safety Tower
I. Human Resources Division
1) Recruitments
a. Internal recruitments
• Fire Captain – Assessment Center scheduled for January 10, 2013.
• Fire Equipment Operator – Assessment Center scheduled for January 14,
2013.
• Fire/Hazardous Materials Specialist – Promotion effective January 16,
2013. FF Eddie Abe promoted.
b. Open-competitive recruitments
• Fire Radio Dispatcher I (2 positions) – Recruitment process initiated; will
be initiating recruitment process for another vacancy after approval
received by managing director.
• Fire Fighter Recruit – Physical Agility test scheduled on December 21,
2012 (make-up test for two applicants that were unable to participate in
the previous test due to 1) pregnancy and 2) military deployment). One
applicant passed the physical agility test.
II. Emergency Operations Division
OPERATIONS:
1) Three (3) New Apparatus arrived and all 3shifts conducted training in its use
by Pierce representative. 27 Personnel total. Engines for Kawailani,
Kaumana, and Pahoa.
2) Volunteer 9 Bravo with 5 ton Military style 1200gal tanker online Dec 12.
3) Dec 1st Station 21 online 0800hrs and change of Battalion stations and
districts.
4) Applied for Grant from Civil Defense for Safety equipment and Accountability
system.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS:
Hazmat
1) Still planning the meeting for the Nanawale community to discuss the PGV
response plan and evacuation.
2) The CST drill is being planned for March 2013. The initial planning
conference is scheduled for early January.
Rescue
1) The Sayre Foundation is completing the purchases of this year’s requests by
our rescue personnel
2) The Sayre foundation has provided funding for some upcoming dive rescue
training.
3) All of our rescue and TA rescue personnel continue to take part in our
mandatory annual rescue training drills. This has proven to be very beneficial
in keeping up the skills of our personnel.
Ocean Safety
1) We currently have 2 vacant positions. Due changes in the Mayor’s executive
staff, we will not be making any transfers or conduct any hiring until approval
is granted by Managing Director.
2) Revised ACC program to include Ocean Safety and will identify skills required
by USLA standards. New cards to be issued upon approval of this addition to
our program. We are currently consulting with HGEA regarding this program
but have not received any reply as of yet.
3) Working on adding a new lifeguard tower at the Hapuna Beach north end.
This would allow us to view the beach area fronting the Hapuna Beach Prince
Hotel. We are awaiting notification from the state land division before
moving forward on obtaining the necessary permits. We have gotten a quote
from Conen’s to transport the tower over to the beach.
New Safety Committee
1) Our department have formed and identified a safety committee to address any
safety concerns within the department. The members of this committee are
BC Gerald Kosaki, Captain Darwin Okinaka, Captain Charles Spain, and
Captain James Pacheco. BC Kosaki is the Chairperson of this committee.
2) The committee has reached out to the stations regarding any safety concerns
that our members may have. Several issues were brought up and are being
addressed.
3) Other concerns brought up at the committee meetings were; PPE cleaning,
respiratory protection program, AAR at all multi-company incidents, near
miss reporting, review of all IA and accident reports, staffing and health and
safety concerns.
4) All safety committee minutes will be available for viewing by our members in
the “All Battalions” folder.
III. Support Services Division
EMS BUREAU:
1) Five (5) MICT Interns successfully pass their MICT internship in the month
of December. Next step are the written final exam, skills testing and the
National Registry examination, all scheduled for the week of January 21st to
the 25th, 2013. Three (3) other Interns are on their final month of internship
and are scheduled to complete the program mid January of next year.
2) Received notification of award from Kaiser Permanente for $3,500.00 to
equip our ambulances with digital cameras. The objective is to assist with
patient care by documenting the Mechanism of Injury (MOI) associated with
our trauma patients.
3) Capt Ebersole worked with the Kona Community Hospital (KCH)
Administrators to address a long standing linen issue. KCH now provides
HFD/EMS with linen, with the focus being the best interest in patient care.
This collaborative effort has greatly improved the inter-professional
relationship, which in turn improves quality care.
TRAINING BUREAU:
1) 41ST Firefighter Recruit Class had their week long Wildland Firefighting
training from December 10-14 in Waimea. The training covered the basics of
wildland firefighting, fireground safety, hand tools/power tools their uses and
safety, helicopter operations and safety, native plants and animals and how
we can work to try and minimize their destruction, and factors that affect it
such as fuel types, topography, and weather.
2) Recruits also started the Driver Training portion of class. It will go on for 3
weeks, 1 week of classroom which covers the HDL- CDL curriculum and 2
weeks of practical/performances based training which mainly covers pre-trip
and closed course skills practice and testing.
3) We lost a FF Recruit due to termination for academic dishonesty and not
being able to satisfactorily perform and meet the standards of our Training
Curriculum.
4) Attended an OSHA workshop on December 11th regarding the updated
inspection criteria that they and HIOSH will be implementing starting this
year. Class covered a lot of good topics and expressed their concern for and
willingness to assist us in minimizing injuries and faults during inspections.
VOLUNTEER TRAINING BUREAU:
1) Tanker 9B online thanks to Glenn Maesato and the Mechanic Shop personnel
who worked hard to get this vehicle up to speed.
2) Volunteers from 7B, 9B, 10D, 11C attended the Brushfire class at the HPA
grounds on December 10-14, 2012.
3) Coordinated CPR/AED and Defensive Driving Classes for the upcoming year.
PREVENTION BUREAU:
1) Conducted 3 Fire investigations: 1 deemed arson secondary to a domestic
dispute on Ohiki street in district 10; 1 deemed undetermined that resulted in
a death in Ahualoa; 1 deemed accidental due to an unattended
candle.Continued to make amendments to the 2012 NFPA 1 State Fire Code
which will be the next Fire code up for State adoption. We are currently on the
2006 NFPA 1.
2) Inspected and inventoried all shipments of consumer grade fireworks. Tested
and discontinued the sale of several products that did not meet the consumer
fireworks parameters.
3) Inspected, re-inspected, and approved all 50 fireworks retail sites on the
island.
4) Arson canine used at 2 fires. Canine team had positive hits at the Ohiki street
fire in district 10 and no hits at the Ahualoa fire.
5) Met with the state LEPC and HEER liaison to discuss and develop a plan that
not only identifies hazardous chemicals in our schools, but to also properly
dispose of them.
6) Submit amendment language to our Hawai‘i Revised Statutes as it pertains to
fireworks (HRS 132D).
DISPATCH:
1) Continue to provide site and operational details with future E911 provider
Intrado through telephone conferences. Solecom (current provider) continues
to service our department and at this time things are working smoothly.
2) Pacific Wireless moved radio equipment into equipment room, freeing up
office space in the Dispatch Supervisors Office.
3) Recruitment to fill recent FRD I vacancies initiated, new hires scheduled to
come on board February 1, 2013. Awaiting approval to fill one additional
vacant position.
4) Our Fire Communications and Control Center dispatchers answered 1942
calls from Dec. 1 to 31 Midnight. Total for 2012 22,730. These are calls that
became actual incidents. Our dispatchers deserve a well earned thank you.
AUXILLIARY SERVICES/WAREHOUSE
1) FASO shadowing continued through December with 3 participants learning
the position recently vacated by Retired Battalion Chief Mike Gahan.
2) Makalei Fire Station personnel continue to settle in to their new station. They
are working closely with Support Services to furnish and equip the station
with necessary resources and are monitoring the warranty phase of the
facilities and working out the minor bugs.
3) Three new Fire Apparatus received pre-service maintenance and the station
personnel have gone through Operator training with a factory representative.
We continue to receive new equipment to place on the apparatus and driver
training is being done.
4) VFA Grant funds have been encumbered and we are set to receive PPE and
equipment, inclusive of 5 Forestry vehicles set to be picked up on Jan 11, 2013
Hilo Harbor.
MAINTENANCE SHOP
1) Maintenance shop continues to provide service, repairs and maintenance to
our fleet. New 9B fire truck up and running.
2) Three new apparatus have gone through the acceptance process (detailed,
licensed, serviced, radio programming). Minor damage from shipping
completed.
3) Specifications submitted for two new pumpers for North Kohala and Waimea
stations.
4) Pahala Tanker bid awarded to Freedom Fire Equipment. Notice to proceed
completed. Arrangements for pre-construction meeting underway.
New Projects/Business
Employee/Public Relations