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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 Chief's Report for June MeetingCHIEF’S REPORT (06/10/2015) I. Budget • FY 2014/2015 • Projected to have a budget deficit for Salary and Wages (S&W) at end of FY 14/15. Will utilize excess funds from Other Current Expenditures (OCE) budget lines to offset deficit. Any further S&W shortages will be covered by Finance Department funding to close out budget. • FY 2015/2016 • County Counsel hearings on Final Budget being conducted week of June 1-5. • No cuts to HFD preliminary budget • Two additional Fire Prevention Positions added. • Replacement apparatus funded. II. Alternative Funding and Grant • 2012 Assistance to Fire Fighters (AFG) Prevention Grant • Smoke detector project continues very successfully • 2012 AFG Operations Grant • Fire Ground Survival Training • Grant completed and closed out • HFD Personnel Trained • 2013 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) • Waiakea Rescue Quint • Apparatus received and in operation • Grant Closed • 2014 AFG Operations Grant • Driver Training Simulator Project • Vendor finally received HCE • Delayed project significantly • Applied for Grant extension and awaiting decision • 2014 CDBG • Pahala Brush Truck apparatus • In Production at KME in Pennsylvania. • Targeted delivery date is September 2015 • 2015 CDBG • Received notification of awarding of Grant Project • Pahoa Brush Truck Apparatus Project • Must wait for funding approval from HUD before preceding • Anticipated final approval in July/August 2015 • Normal for CDBG projects. III. Human Resources Division 1) Recruitments Open-competitive recruitments • Human Resources Assistant – Conducted internal recruitment within department and selected internal employee. Start date was May 18, 2015. • Water Safety Officer I - Performance Assessment Exercise was conducted on May 11, 2015. Five (5) temporary positions (4 WSO I (Temp) for the summer and One (1) temporary position not to exceed December 9, 2015) to be filled on June 1, 2015. One (1) WSO (Temp) position to be filled on June 16, 2015. • Fire Fighter Recruit – Interviews continuing until June 9, 2015. Targeted hire date is August 3, 2015. Internal within department recruitment • Fire Prevention Captain – pending selection. • Battalion Chief – pending selection. • Fire/Emergency Medical Services Specialist II – pending interview and selection process. • Fire Captain – pending interview and selection process. • Fire Equipment Operator – pending interview and selection process. IV. Emergency Operations Division OPERATIONS: West Hawai‘i 1) 5/2/15: Participated with Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO) in their “National Prep Day” at Waikoloa Village. Promoting public education in the areas of Risk Assessment, Fuel Reduction, Defensible Space and promotion of fire resistant indigenous plants for use in landscaping. 2) 5/6/15: Participated with Big Island Trauma Advisory Council (BITAC) and US Army Blackhawk Medivac Squadron meeting at N. Hawai‘i Community Hospital. Covered Response parameters, capabilities, co-response and role for medical emergencies at the Pohakuloa Training Area. 3) 5/8/15: Structure Fire at Sea View Circle (District 12). Large two story residence also investigated for possible HAZMAT concerns. 4) 5/15/15: West side training for Ocean Safety and their new Jet Ski program. Review of their training, operating parameters and future capabilities. 5) Fire Fighter Recruits assigned to stations, begin OJT and obtain experience on the Medic Units. 6) 5/30/15: Honu Race: Fairmont Orchid/Hāpuna Beach Park/Akoni Pule Hwy. Support and Medical response. East Hawai‘i 1) Type 3 All Hazards Incident Management (AHIMT) 305 Class - The class attendees were from: HFD, HPD, State ARFF, Civil Defense and the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The Type 3 AHIMT is a nationwide trend that is at the forefront of Emergency and Disaster Management. 2) Fire Fighter Recruits - 43rd class graduated and were on line from May 11, 2015. The added personnel assist in meeting minimum staffing levels. 3) Nīnole Loop Brushfire - The continued dry conditions in Ka’ū contributed to the spread of this brushfire. 4) Green Sands Subdivision - This was a highly publicized incident and it illustrated the fact that educating the public is an integral part of fire prevention. An educational example would be to make public service announcements on “no burn” days. 5) TMT Protest Joint Operations - This was a joint operation between HFD and HPD that resulted in a peaceful protest. SPECIAL OPERATIONS: Hazmat: 1) Identified specific locations near PGV to deploy our Area Rae monitors in the event of an incident at PGV. We are procuring Ipads through Civil Defense that we will use a hotspots upon implementation of our new guidelines. 2) 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. Will determine who will attend from the HFD. 3) We are preparing for the upcoming Vigilant Guard exercise on June 3rd. BC Kosaki met with the Combat Support Team (CST) from Utah who will be assisting Hawaii County with this exercise that will entail a chemical leak at Brewer Environmental. 4) We have received our new laptops that will again give us the capability of utilizing CAMEO for mapping and creating plume modeling to be used for planning purposes in the event of a hazardous materials leak. Rescue: 1) We received funding from the Sayre Foundation donated by the Ironman Foundation for our swift water training that will be held in August. We will train 15 of our rescue 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) We began our Rescue Water Craft training on May 4th with Mel Puu as the lead instructor. This training is scheduled to end on June 5th with the program implementation on July 1st. A revised supplemental agreement and consultation letter was submitted to HGEA and although got a verbal agreement, has not gotten anything formal. 2) We have begun our recruitment for the 5 temporary hires in east Hawai‘i as well as for the vacancies for west Hawai‘i. They are scheduled to begin on June 1st. 3) We are holding the Jr. Lifeguard program again this year in Hilo, Puna, Punalu‘u, Kahalu‘u, and Hāpuna. The Island championships will be held on July 25 and the state championships will be held on August 1 at Hāpuna. 4) 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. Flyers and invitation letters are already being sent out. V. Support Services Division TRAINING: 1) The 43rd Recruit class graduated on May 9th. The commencement was held at the Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, Moku’ola Ballroom. Friends, family, and members from the department and county, were all in attendance to celebrate the completion of the training program. Guest speakers included Mayor William Kenoi, Union President Robert Lee, Dr. Kimo Alameda, Commissioner David De Luz Jr., and representatives of the Hawai‘i Fire Department. The Recruits received their badges and were sworn in as Fire Fighters in front of all in attendance, marking the culmination of the training process. 2) Following the graduation, the 22 fire recruits were sent to stations around the island to begin the transition to permanent Fire Fighter status. Specifically, each recruit will be working towards attaining 25 emergency responses on the ambulance as well as 15 transports to the hospital while under supervision. These are the requirements set forth by the Driver Training program for a Fire Fighter to be certified to run as a designated EMT. The recruits are scheduled to be reallocated to SR17, or permanent Fire Fighters, on June 15. 3) On May 20, the Training Bureau and FMSIII Chris Honda attended the National Guard Youth Challenge Academy career day in Hilo. We set up a booth and represented the Fire Department by passing out brochures and showing a recruitment video to those in attendance. We had good interaction with the cadets and were able to give them valuable information and show the different career paths that Hawai‘i Fire Department offers. 4) Captain Soo met with Jack Minassian, a representative of the Hawai‘i Community College Fire Science Program. Jack is working to be able to give college Credits to members of the department in lieu of real work experience. We went over the basics of the program and how the Training Bureau can assist with providing the documentation needed for HCC to accept the credits. We are currently moving forward in the authorization process. 5) The Training Bureau has begun the process of preparing for the 44th recruit class set to start in August. We conducted a post-class analysis of the 43rd to identify the positives of the class, and show what areas can be improved. With that information, we hope to have a good foundation to move forward. We also recently sent a memo to solicit Recruit Training Officers for the class. Traditionally, these individuals will convert to a 40 hour schedule, be under the supervision of the Training Bureau, and provide much of the day to day, hands-on, training that the 44th class will require. VOLUNTEER TRAINING: 1) Continue integrate training with online personnel. 2) Volunteer Officers meeting at N. Kohala Volunteer Station. Present: Chief Rosario, Fire Commissioner David De Luz, Captain Clyde Komatsu. 3) Continue Drivers Audit with volunteer drivers. 4) We would like to thank all volunteer companies that responded to the numerous brushfires this month: Punalu‘u on May 4th, Volunteer companies 11-A (Nā‘ālehu), 11-C (Discovery Harbour), 11-D (Pāhala), 20-A (HOVE), 20-B (Miloli‘i), and 6-B (Kona Paradise); Greensands on May 11th, companies 11-A (Nā‘ālehu), 11-C (Discovery Harbour), 11-D (Pāhala), 20-A (HOVE), 7-B (Kalaoa), and 9-B (Kanehoa) Kalōpā on May 16th, companies 8-A (Pa’auilo), 9-B (Kanehoa), and Derrick Domingo from 7-B (Kalaoa). EMS BUREAU: 1) The first Cardiac Arrest save from our Hands Only CPR program in schools arrived back on island after 3 – 4 weeks of rehab on Oahu. The patient was a senior at Waiākea High School who amongst his friends attended the HO CPR training. The student went into cardiac arrest while playing basketball off campus and his friends did HO CPR for 10 minutes before the arrival of HFD units. 2) Attended quarterly Big Island Trauma Advisory Council (BITAC) meeting in Waimea where the US Army Hawaii (USARHAW) MEDEVAC team was on site to provide an overview of MEDEVAC services. Effective June 24th, 2015, USARHAW will take over MEDEVAC services at PTA replacing the private contractor. 3) The 43rd Fire Recruit Class was certified in the NAEMT Safety Class led by Captain Chris Honda. This safety class focused on practical situational awareness inclusive of the wellbeing of the EMT, driver safety, scene safety, and how to approach a violent patient. 4) Conducted medic acceptance inspection up at the Braun North West manufacturing facility. Two new build ambulances were inspected and are scheduled to arrive on island the first week of June. Ambulances will be assigned to Keaau and HOVE. 5) Ramping up for EMS standby for the upcoming Honu Race. Incident Action Plans have been finalized and affected personnel have been briefed. PREVENTION BUREAU: 1) Fire Prevention Captain Kazuo Todd attended a six day Performance Based Plan Review course at NFA. 2) Continuing maintenance inspections of restaurants and hotels Island-wide. 3) Continuing the smoke detector/home inspection program Island-wide. 4) Conducted four Arson K9 demonstrations along with three fire extinguisher trainings. 5) Conducted four fire investigations. 6) Five personnel attended the HACBO conference from May 12-15, 2015 in Kailua-Kona. AUXILLIARY SERVICES Dispatch: 1) Fire Radio Dispatch trainee resignation May 22, 2015. 2) FRD I Training: BlackBoard recall system with CD John Drummond. 3) Hawaiian Telcom personnel work on Intrado software systems. Maintenance Shop: 1) Chief Mechanic to Washington for two medic units acceptance. 2) Chief Mechanic to Pennsylvania for Vehicle Pre-acceptance Warehouse: 1) Meeting with various fire product vendors for PPE, SCBA and lighting purchases. 2) Continued work on Inventory for FY2014-15. 3) Station repairs and renovations. VI. New Projects/Business • HFFA Contract re-opener discussions taking place on Oahu June 3, 2015 • Working with Councilmember Ilagan on joint project with HPD to address False Alarms. VII. Employee/Public Relations • Meeting with Local vendor to initiate discussion on promoting Fire Department through media related venues.