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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 Chief's Report for July MeetingCHIEF’S REPORT (07/09/2014) I. Budget • FY 2013/2014 • FY 2014/2015 II. Alternative Funding and Grant • FY 2012 Assistance to Fire Fighters Prevention Grant Application o Home inspections have started in East Hawaii and smoke detector installation will be scheduled shortly. o In West Hawaii two public education talks have been set up in June for the Holualoa and Honaunau senior meeting centers and signups for home inspections and smoke detector installation will be started at those locations. o • FY 2013 CDBG Grant for Waiakea Quint o ETA August 1, 2014 • Capital Improvement Projects o Kawailani Fire Station Replacement o Fire Communications Center ▪ Joint project with HPD III. Human Resources Division 1) Recruitments a) Open-competitive recruitments • Water Safety Officer I (Temp) – Second round of interviews (due to lack of applicants in the first round of interviews) were conducted on May 29, 2014. Targeted hired date is June 16, 2014. • Fire Fighter Recruit new hire orientation scheduled on May 30, 2014. Targeted hire date is June 16, 2014. • Fire Radio Dispatcher I Interviews scheduled from June 2 – 10, 2014. Targeted hire date is July 1, 2014. b) Internal within department recruitment • Battalion Chief (Prevention) – Pending recruitment. 2) Classification a) Class specifications for the Water Safety Officer I position will be amended to delete the current Water Safety Officer-related certificates that are required at time of application. The training for the required certificates will be provided internally through our department. This should increase the applicant pool. b) Class specifications for the Water Safety Officer II position will be amended to include the required certifications for jet ski operations. IV. Emergency Operations Division OPERATIONS: 1) 3 residential structure fires and 3 brush fires. South Point brush fire lasted 3 weeks. 2) June 14, 2014 Companies 6,7,12,21,7b,BC2 responded to fire in large multi- level, multi family structure fire on Kealapua st. Kailua-Kona. 11 occupants, no injuries. 3) Makani Pahili exercise with the USAR team June 2, 3, 4. 4) Company 1 and Company 4 high rise wet drill at the Hawaiian Telcom building 5) 2 extended rescue/search operations (Kumukahi point, Malama flats). 6) 4 special duty/public education events. SPECIAL OPERATIONS: a. Ocean Safety 1) Hired 3 WSO personnel to fill 2 temporary and 1 permanent position in west Hawai‘i. We have begun to conduct a continuous open recruitment to fill any future vacancies and/or new positions. 2) Planning stage of organizing a Powered Water Craft (PWC) or Jet Ski program. We have received funding approval from the Mayor to begin implementation. 3) Awaiting arrival of 5 new surveyor type lifeguard towers. The first two towers anticipated are Ahalanui and Honolii. 4) The Jr. Lifeguard program commenced in Hilo and Ka‘ū on June 9. A second session will be held in Hilo beginning in July. Sessions in Puna and Kahalu‘u to follow. The DeREgo Foundation is sponsoring a program in Hāpuna. Qualifying Jr. Lifeguards will be attending the State Championships in Kauai on August 2, 2014. The Ocean Safety conference this year will be held on Kauai in conjunction with the State Championships on July 31 and August 1, 2014. 5) Our Ocean Safety personnel have supported the Honu triathlon, Hāpuna Rough Water Swim and Cinco deMayo Swim. They will also assist with the upcoming Hilo triathlon and Richardson’s rough water swim in July. b. Rescue 1) Received contingency funds from some Council members to purchase more equipment and supplies for the Project Lifesaver program. Met with Council Member Brenda Ford who is finalizing a news release regarding this program. 2) Planning state to conduct a Dive Rescue I class for FRS and TA FRS personnel by Dave Mahon. 3) June 30, 2014, Company 2 swift water rescue training. c. Hazmat 1) Distributed the Hazmat SOG’s. 2) Hazmat equipment replaced/repaired/updated – Thermo Imager (HM4), Hazmat ID (HM4 and HM21), Q-Raes (HM4 and HM21), Q-Rae (HM4), multi-rae (HM4).. 3) June 26 conducted a drill at the PGV vicinity to establish strategic locations to deploy our Area Raes for monitoring a possible chemical release. V. Support Services Division 1) Fire 2, AC2 and Fire Mechanic went to Kovatch Manufacturing in Pennsylvania on June 23 to do the pre-delivery inspection on two new custom pumpers for Waimea and North Kohala. This opportunity also allowed for two key employees to tour the KME facility, get a firsthand look at the quality and manufacturing process, network and make vital connections with a new vendor, and to give KME a thorough understanding of Hawai'i Fire Department’s expectations when it comes to the quality and acceptance of new apparatus. After a second pre delivery inspection is completed in California, the trucks are booked to ship on July 23rd. 2) The West Hawai'i Tanker, Ladder 2, and Pumpers for Honokaa and Keaau are at various stages of the procurement and production process. 3) AC 2 Honda continues to represent the Fire Department on the Radio RFP Evaluation Committee. With the team, he will be traveling to Schaumburg Illnois, to evaluate a system proposed by Motorola. On the return trip, the team will stop in Dublin CA to evaluate a radio system that was recently completed and servicing the Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. 4) Plans and design work continues on the New Kawailani Fire Station. Input form the personnel has been solicited and they will be kept in the loop throughout the project. KYA Design has targeted the end of December to have the project ready to out to bid. No confirmation CIP on funding at this point. 5) Chief Honda continues to work with Pw’s and KYA Design on this project. TRAINING BUREAU: 1) 25 Recruits are going through Physical conditioning and Emergency Medical Response (EMR) training. Captain Chris Honda of our EMS Bureau is the lead instructor for this training delivered “in house”. This is one more step towards the Fire Department having more control over the scheduling and delivery of required training and certifications for our Fire Fighters. 2) 3 line personnel brought on to provide Recruit Training Officer support - FEO Keola Payao, FMS II Mel Keolanui and FRS Kimo Wilson. VOLUNTEER TRAINING: 1) Recertified for ACC 6/4/14 2) Integrated training Co.1A with Central “B” 3) Reviewed SOG’s with Volunteer Companies 4) Collected and submitted Volunteer Awards receipts 5) Conducted DOT Vehicle inspections with HFD mechanics EMS BUREAU: 1) Supported Level three Trauma recertification surveys for both Hilo Medical Center and Kona Community Hospital. The re-verification surveys were conducted by an independent State contracted trauma survey team. The Trauma surgeon conducting the survey gave EMS high remarks for their documentation, communication and patient care. He stated that “it’s the best he’s seen in his career”. The results from the site visits with recommendations will be forwarded to the EMS Bureau upon completion. 2) Conducted an EMS Orientation for newly hired Fire Recruit Class. The history of EMS in HFD, levels of training, and the strength of our Fire Based EMS system were introduced and discussed. 3) Our first ever Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Training for the Fire Recruit Class was started in mid-June. This training is to replace the current First Responder curriculum which is a 40 hour certification. The EMR curriculum is a nationally recognized curriculum and is approximately 120 hour of training. 4) The first of a series of “Aloha Training” was conducted by Dr. Kimo Almeida at our EMT Refresher training. EMS Bureau personnel assisted Dr. Almeida with setting up interviews and videos of our line personnel to customize the training towards our department. The feedback from personnel who attended the training was very positive. PREVENTION BUREAU: 1) Fire Prevention Inspector Palani Kurashige attended the NFA R206 Fire Investigation Origin and Cause class. 2) Smoke detector program implemented both in East and West Hawaii with the IBEW partnership approximately 50 smoke detectors installed in June. 3) Three structure fires investigated, with the Arson K9 used at two. 4) Arson K9 Demonstration held at the Bark for Life event which supports the American Cancer Society. 5) Fireworks sales have begun island-wide. DISPATCH: 1) Conducted Fire Radio Dispatcher I interviews, June 2 – 10, 2014. 2) FCS Bugado attended UIPA class. 3) Text 2 911 continued phone conference: 1) SOP from other jurisdictions to be gathered and provide as a resource. 2) Public info on usage to present as State-wide message. 4) FRD I training material compiled; draft binder provided to AC2. AUXILLIARY SERVICES/WAREHOUSE 1) Fire additions inventory sent to Property Management. 2) Pāhoa Fire Station plumbing repair. MAINTENANCE SHOP 1) Mechanic shop, per Department of Public Works, stated that walking and working on roof to do repair will cause more damage. 2) Island-wide DOT inspections completed. 3) Fire Equipment Mechanic Kirk Roark attended vehicle inspection and acceptance at KME in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania. 4) Beam where electrical wire attached to building deteriorated is of safety concern. 5) Light fixture fell off of rusted beam. New Projects/Business 1) Compensation Plan review for Excluded Managers 2) Overhaul of the WSO recruitment process 3) Power Water Craft Program 4) Volunteered to be Co-Chairman of the Hawai‘i Island United Way Fundraising campaign for FY 14/15. Employee/Public Relations 1) Attended National Wildfire Preparedness Day in Waikoloa along with Battalion 2 and Company 16 on May 3rd. 2) Assisted the IronMan Foundation with the safety planning for the Honu Triathlon. 3) Held 2nd Quarter Officer’s meetings in Hilo and Kona on May 20th and 21st. 4) Attended the Waiakeawaena Elementary School May Day program as one of their honored guest on May 23rd. 5) Participated in the Race Operations Center of the Honu Triathlon to coordinate HFD services to the race.