HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 Chief's Report for April Meeting finalCHIEF’S REPORT (04/8/2015)
I. Budget
• FY 2014/2015
o Working with Finance Department on FEMA reimbursements for
Pahoa Lava Flow expenditures
• FY 2015/2016
o Budget Hearing April 22nd at 1:30pm. Hilo Council Chambers.
II. Alternative Funding and Grant
• No updates from last months meetings. All grant projects continue.
III. Human Resources Division
1) Recruitments
Open-competitive recruitments
• Fire Fighter Recruit – Physical agility test conducted on April 4, 2015.
108 applicants scheduled. 80 applicants passed. HFD application
packets due on April 15, 2015.
• Fire Equipment Mechanic – New Hire, Fire Mechanic Jason Rowland
effective February 2, 2015.
• Human Resources Assistant – Recruitment initiated.
• Fire Radio Dispatcher – Targeted hire date for 4 vacancies is April 16,
2015.
• Water Safety Officer I – Currently have five vacancies (two F/T; two ½
time; one temp not to exceed December 9, 2015. Targeted hire date for
two F/T positions is April 16, 2015. Planning to fill remaining
vacancies with updated referral lists.
Internal within department recruitment
• Fire/Emergency Medical Services Specialist II – Pending promotional
date.
• Fire Rescue Specialist – Pending promotional date.
• Fire Prevention Captain – Assessment Center rescheduled for May 7,
2015 due to first assessment did not provide a candidate that passed
the Assessment Center minimum score.
• Battalion Chief (Emergency Operations) – Assessment Center
scheduled on May 8, 2015.
IV. Emergency Operations Division
OPERATIONS:
West Hawai‘i
1) 3/2/15: Ladder drill with Company 14 and Hilton Waikoloa Security and other
employees. Drill involving L-14 placement, deployment of aerial device to top
floors for rescue and fire suppression scenarios.
2) Three station meetings (Station 9, Station 16, Station 14) with contractor
Environet and the Army Corps of Engineers. Review maps of cleared and still
hazardous areas along with the identification of UXO’s that could be expected
to be found in particular areas.
3) 3/18/15: Shark attack at Hāpuna Beach State Park. INC# 5450. Lifeguard
/HFD rescue and transport of victim. Coordination of beach closure in
conjunction with DLNR and nearby hotels. Supported surveillance of beaches
in the area with Chopper 2. Multiple other sightings one resulting in another
Hāpuna Beach closure on 3/25.
4) 3/20/15: Structure Fire in H.O.V.E. on Pineapple Way. INC# 5591 Confirmed
arson, suspect identified.
5) 3/25/15: Sayer Foundation Gifting Ceremonies at Hāpuna Beach with Bank of
Hawai‘i involving the donation of two ATVs and later in Waimea with
Sayre/N. Hawai‘i Rotary in the gifting of a winch/bumper assembly for X-9.
Also submitted a proposal for a specialized rescue saw and some rescue
accessories to utilize monies made available by N. Hawai‘i Rotary. Per Laura
Sayre.
6) 3/29/15: Lava Man Triathlon support/response coordination with race
officials and AMR.
East Hawai‘i
1) Continue the development of the HFD AHIMT team.
2) Traffic Incident Management training for all company officers.
3) 3/3/15: Ladder 2 placed online.
4) Fire Assets demobilized for Pahoa Village Fire Station due to status of lava
flow. Maintained the services of M10A, Advance Life Support Ambulance.
5) 3/24/15: INC #5829. First rescue utilizing Ladder 2. High angle rescue of a
female who fell down the Wainaku bridge embankment.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS:
Hazmat:
1) The HPD contacted us and offered to give us their inventory of Tyvek hazmat
suits and chemical resistant boots. We will use these suits for training
purposes but will be able to use the boots for response since there is no shelf
life for those.
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) Addressing our equipment and training issues with the Local Emergency
Planning Committee (LEPC) to request for assistance with this. LEPC will
fund HFD personnel to attend this year’s Hazmat Continuing Challenge in
September.
4) Attended coordinated training with the Combat Support Team on March 10-
12 encompassing drills that covered situations that will be used in the full
scale Vigilant Guard exercise in June.
5) The DOH Radiological team came over to assist us the drills with the CST and
also calibrated our Canberra radiological meter.
Rescue:
1) We received funding for our swiftwater training that will be held in August.
We will train our personnel to be instructors so that we would be able to do
our training in-house in the future.
2) Along with the CST Vigilant Guard exercise in June, the National Guard will
also be conducting an urban search and rescue type drill scenario. We will
determine the level of our involvement as we receive more information on
this.
Ocean Safety:
1) The new RWC and other equipment are scheduled to arrive in April. We will
be conducting the skills assessment for the prospective candidates as soon as
our equipment arrives.
2) We held a gifting ceremony on March 25 at Hāpuna beach for the donation of
the two ATVs for Punalu‘u and Hāpuna. These were donated by Bank of
Hawai‘i, Roberta Chu.
3) A revised supplemental agreement and consultation letter was submitted to
HGEA and is awaiting a reply. The MOA between UH WCC and the County of
Hawai‘i was signed and put through resolution.
4) Replaced the Carlsmith Beach lifeguard tower on April 2. This project will be
more labor intensive since we are replacing the base and ramp with an altered
foundation and steps due to the space constraints at that location.
5) The 2015 Drowning Prevention Ocean Safety conference will be held on July
30, 31, 2015. This conference will be held at the Hāpuna Beach Prince Hotel.
This conference will run in conjunction with the state Jr. Lifeguard
championships scheduled to be on August 1, 2015 at the Hāpuna Beach.
Flyers and invitation letters are already being sent out.
V. Support Services Division
TRAINING:
1) Recruit class completed EMT training; finishing up driver training hours and
finalizing requirements.
2) Conducted National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training for
BC’s, Company Officers and Paramedics.
3) Driving simulator bid awarded to FAAC Inc.
4) Captain Soo is the new Training Bureau Captain; Captain Okinaka will remain
on staff until recruits graduate and assist with transitioning Captain Soo.
5) The Training Bureau reassumed the responsibility of conducting driver audits
for HFD personnel. This was delegated to the Company Officers in the past to
assist with the work load.
VOLUNTEER TRAINING:
1) Continued integrated training.
2) Continued driver training, closed course/pre-trip. Issued four driver permits.
3) Attended courtroom preparation class on March 5 & 6, 2015.
4) Attended Traffic Incident Management class March 23, 2015.
5) Cleaned Fire Distribution Warehouse.
EMS BUREAU:
1) Participated in a meeting with Hawai‘i Police Department Administrative staff
to discuss utilizing the Pro – QA program for EMS calls that occur in the Cell
Block. Focus being better utilization of resources.
2) Actively participating in Be a Lifesaver Hawai‘i meetings facilitated by HMC
Foundation. We’re confident that Be a Lifesaver Hawai‘i will change cardiac
arrest survival rates here on Hawai‘i island, it’s just a matter of time.
3) Performed home fall assessments in Hilo and Puna. The work was not only
gratifying for Bureau personnel but much appreciated by the
recipient/requestor.
4) Hands Only CPR training - ~ 5,000 persons trained to date
a. Kalaniana‘ole Elementary and Intermediate Faculty
b. Kea‘au, Pāhoa and Ka‘ū Complex Area Faculty – Principle’s and VP’s
c. Elementary and Intermediate school children at Richardson’s Ocean
Center.
d. Honoka‘a High School students
5) Received Pediatric Resuscitation Kits as part of USDA grant, kits will be
distributed to all medic units.
PREVENTION BUREAU:
1) Conducted 4 Fire Investigations with the Arson K9 used.
2) Continuing smoke detector and home inspection program Island-wide.
3) Conducted 6 public education events at schools and senior centers.
4) Continuing maintenance inspections of restaurants and hotels.
5) Prevention inspectors attended a one week Crime Scene Photography class
hosted by Hawai‘i Police Department.
6) Fire Prevention Inspector I Kyle Vares was recognized Fire Fighter of the Year
at the Annual Hilo Exchange Club Event on March 17, 2015 at the Nani Mau
Gardens.
AUXILLIARY SERVICES
Dispatch:
1) FRD I trainees continue dispatch shift training.
2) FRD I follow up interviews March 23, 2015.
3) Installation of Map Flex (3/16) and Pictometry (3/18) updates.
Maintenance Shop:
1) Initiate disposal process for unserviceable State fire apparatus.
2) 114 total repair/ service
46 service calls or trouble calls
9 contracted out and tows
Warehouse:
1) General clean up and disposal of outdated supplies.
VI. New Projects/Business
• Working in collaboration with Hilo Medical Center on initiative to improve
survival of cardiac arrest through the deployment of Automatic
Defibrillators in County vehicles and places of business.
VII. Employee/Public Relations
• Attended the Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawai‘i
luncheon event to provide information on Fire Department activities to
business representatives.