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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 Chief's Report for November MeetingCHIEF’S REPORT (11/12/2014) I. Budget • FY 2014/2015 II. Alternative Funding and Grant • FY 2012 Assistance to Fire Fighters Prevention Grant Application • FY 2013 CDBG Grant for Waiakea Quint • FY 2013 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant • FY 2014 CDBG Grant for Ka‘ū Brush Truck • FY 2014 State Highways Grant • Capital Improvement Projects o Kawailani Fire Station Replacement III. Human Resources Division 1) Recruitments a) Open-competitive recruitments • Water Safety Officer I – last interview to be held on October 30, 2014. Targeted hire date is November 16, 2014. b) Internal within department recruitment • Fire Captain – Three temporary promotions (for Pāhoa Village Fire Station) effective November 16, 2014 not to exceed June 30, 2015. • Fire Equipment Operator – Three temporary promotions (for Pāhoa Village Fire Station) effective November 16, 2014 not to exceed June 30, 2015. IV. Emergency Operations Division OPERATIONS: 1) Disaster drafts procedure assignment for major events. 2) Ironman IAP and briefing pre-event for HFD services. 3) Arrange equipment and personnel logistics for Ironman event. 4) Operations meeting pre-hurricane Ana preparation. 5) FLIR training. 6) Fire Ground Survival Training Course participation and roll-out. 7) Provide EOC and command presence for Hurricane Ana. SPECIAL OPERATIONS: Hazmat: 1) Equipment status – working on funding for the replacement of obsolete equipment. Our immediate needs include the repair of equipment as well as the purchasing of supplies, sensors, and calibration gas. 2) Identified specific locations near PGV to deploy our Area Rae monitors in the event of an incident at PGV. Awaiting approval and implementation of our proposed guidelines. 3) We updated our response capabilities to include propane atmospheric monitoring with the purchase of regulators and calibration gas. 4) Assisted Civil Defense with air monitoring of the lava flow. Currently, the only capability of the in-district companies is the monitoring of H2S. 5) The DOH HEER is conducted Hazcat training in September and October for our hazmat teams to properly identify or classify unknown substances. Rescue: 1) Dive rescue I classes are scheduled in October and November for rescue personnel who have not taken it prior. We have an instructor internally who will be conducting this class. 2) New supplies and equipment just arrived for our Project Lifesaver program. We will be distributing tracking devices to other companies island-wide and will provide training for them prior. 3) Monthly off-duty rescue training is still continuing to upkeep the skill level of our personnel. Ocean Safety: 1) We held meetings with Chief Rosario for our Ocean Safety personnel in east and west Hawai‘i. There were many issues covered including the PWC program, new WSO hires, new lifeguard towers, and the imminent drug and alcohol testing policy. 2) We are continuing to pursue the implementation of our Power Water Craft program. This includes procurement of the equipment, identifying the training needs and requirements, creation of an operational plan, and personnel selection for this assignment. We have a training plan that will adhere to USLA standards, State laws, and OSHA regulations. 3) We have replaced the lifeguard towers at Onekahakaha and Richardson’s beach. The plan is to replace the tower at Ahalanui before highway 130 is overrun by lava. After that, we will replace the last two towers at Carlsmith and Honoli‘i. The WSOs are very pleased with these new surveyor type towers. 4) We received a HIOSH citation for a tower that they deemed to be non- compliant. We have since replaced the tower ladder with a ramp and received a notice from HIOSH that they would remove the penalty and remove any admittance that the County of Hawai‘i had violated any OSHA regulation. V. Support Services Division TRAINING BUREAU: 1) The 43rd Fire Fighter Recruit class has been in Driver Training for the entire month. With half of the recruits that will be attending EMT class in January rotating through Stations 1, 3, 5, and 10 in efforts to gain some EMS experience prior to attending class. 2) Conducted In-Service Training for our newly acquired FLIR Thermal Imaging Cameras that will be assigned to both Operations Battalion Chief units and at Captain Cook, Kailua, Honoka‘a, Waimea, Pāhoa, and Pāhala Fire Stations. 3) AFG for Driving Simulators status: Process for identifying unit specifications continues for the preferred driving simulator units. 4) We have commenced with implementing the IAFF Fire Ground Survival training for all of our Operations personnel. 5) Recruits assisted with preparations for the new Pāhoa Village Station. EMS BUREAU: 1) EMS Bureau personnel assisted with the planning and staffing of several high profile EMS standby special events; the Thirty Meter Telescope ground breaking dedication and Ironman World Championships. Both events had a number of casualties that the events allocated resources were able to effectively manage minimizing impact to the 911 system. 2) 300 plus Konawaena High School students were trained in Hands Only CPR in the month of October expanding the department’s efforts to DOE campuses in West Hawai‘i. Over 3,700 people have been trained in Hands Only CPR to date. 3) EMS Bureau team worked collaboratively with KCC EMS Training to put together the October MICT Refresher training agenda. The guest speakers and training agenda included; STEMI and Stroke Activation performance measures by Program Manager RN Jolene Hughes of HMC, “Aloha” customer service training led by Dr. Kimo Alameda and High Performance CPR training led by Dr’s Libby Char and Judith FitzGerald. The feedback from personnel attending the training has been extremely positive. 4) The Critical Incident Stress Management team attended a conference titled “Winning The Battle – Pain Behind the Badge” sponsored by HPD. The conference focused on the well-being of the First Responder discussing the signs and symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress, burnout, the need for debriefings and the importance of asking for help. The course content was easily identifiable and of tremendous benefit to the attendees. 5) Initiated and facilitated an Ebola Task Force group to help develop and implement an HFD Infectious Disease (Ebola) response plan. Although the chance of an occurrence is relatively remote, the group agreed that we should be prepared. The group included personnel from different areas of expertise; Hazmat, Respiratory Protection, Safety Committee, Fire Communication Center, Logistics and Procurement, as well as EMS. PREVENTION BUREAU: 1) Fire Prevention Bureau staff that attended the IAAI Conference in Hilo passed the certification exam and became Certified Forensic Fire Investigators. (4 personnel). 2) Smoke detector program continuing both in East and West Hawai‘i with the IBEW partnership. 3) Fire Prevention Bureau delivered approximately 19,000 Firefighter Safety Guides to all kids in grades Kindergarten to sixth grade. 4) Fire Prevention Bureau conducted 20 Fire Safety Assemblies at various Elementary schools Island-wide to get this year’s Fire Prevention Week message out to the schools. In all, approximately 5,500 students were in attendance as well as teachers and school staff. 5) Battalion Chief Robert Perreira and Arson K9 Kaimi attended their annual Arson K9 Recertification in Myrtle Beach, SC where they were successfully recertified. 6) Battalion Chief Robert Perreira attended Fireshows Reno an educational conference where they offered a new Fire Prevention Track. BC Perreira will be conducting training with Prevention inspectors to share knowledge that he received. 7) Fire Prevention Bureau had two fire investigations in October. AUXILLIARY SERVICES Dispatch: 1) FRD I completion of EMD training; 3 day course completion October 13, 2014 through October 15, 2014. 2) October 13, 2014 - change out of standalone PCs at dispatch positions and office. Document conversion still ongoing by County IT. ‘Places’ database not searching appropriately; multiple conversions not completed, unable to access documents at dispatch positions. On day of changeover had requested one old PC remain; requested elevated and granted. That is the only position with ability to access multiple documents. 3) Stancil Recorder Hard drive failure. Equipment no longer supported XP/Pentium 4. A hard drive to be shipped on 10/22/14 should be received sometime on 10/23 per Carlos/PWC. 4) 9-1-1 UPS on going heat related issues. Per Hawaiian Tel ambient room temperature exceeding maximum allowed. Batteries on UPS replaced; on order to change out: Logic Board, Power Relay and Relay Daughter Board. Fans running on UPS. 5) Ongoing State wide Text to 9-1-1; Map program change out/Map Flex. Anticipate January 2015. 6) Stan's Contracting, INC will be starting the reroofing projects for the Maintenance Shop and the Training/Warehouse/ Dispatch buildings. As of Nov. 3, work on the Maintenance Shop is scheduled to begin. Work on the Training/ Warehouse/Dispatch building is scheduled to begin on Nov. 17. Both projects are scheduled to be completed around mid-January. Weather will play a considerable role on when the jobs are actually completed Maintenance Shop: 1) October 23, 2014 – received 79’ Aerial Quint from KME. 2) Apparatus and Equipment repair: 115 total repair/ service 25 service calls or trouble calls 17 contracted out and tows Warehouse: 1) Continuously working to reoccupy Old Pāhoa Fire Station, to be renamed Pāhoa Village Fire Station. Ordering/Requisition of needed supplies, equipment and appliances to complete reoccupation. 2) Ongoing repair request and disposal of decommissioned supplies and equipment. New Projects/Business 1) Development of new Pāhoa Village Fire Station. 2) New response protocols for lava inundation zone. Employee/Public Relations 1) Battalion Chief Lance Uchida nominated for County of Hawai‘i Supervisor of the Year to be held on November 17, 2014.