HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 Chief's Report for October Meeting finalCHIEF’S REPORT (10/7/2015)
I. Budget
• FY 2014/2015
• See attached report
• FY 2015/2016
• Budget meeting held with all Department Heads
• No new positions allowed
• Status quo funding
• Submit Supplemental request for review
II. Alternative Funding and Grant
• 2012 Assistance to Fire Fighters (AFG) Prevention Grant
o Smoke detector installation program
o Grant closed out with Final Report.
o HFD continues program on its own.
• 2012 AFG Operations Grant
o Fire Ground Survival Training
o Grant completed and closed out
o HFD Personnel Trained.
• 2014 AFG Operations Grant
o Driver Training Simulator Project
o Vendor finally received HCE.
▪ Delayed project significantly
▪ Simulator ordered
o Applied for Grant extension and awaiting decision
▪ Grant extension approved
▪ Notice to proceed executed.
• 2014 CDBG
o Pahala Brush Truck apparatus
o Apparatus completed September 18, 2015
o HFD Final inspection prior to shipping is September 28, 2015
▪ Completed. Discrepancies to be rectified before shipping.
• 2015 CDBG
o Received notification of awarding of Grant Project
o Pahoa Brush Truck Apparatus Project
o Received funding approval from HUD.
o Bid specifications sent to Purchasing department.
III. Human Resources Division
1) Recruitments
Open-competitive recruitments
• Fire Fighter Recruit – hired 24 on September 1, 2015 and 1 on
September 16, 2015. One termination (due to injury) effective
September 21, 2015 and one resignation effective September 22, 2015.
Two replacements will be hired effective October 1, 2015.
• Clerk III – temporary position not to exceed September 11, 2019.
Pending interview and selection process.
Internal within department recruitment
• Fire Captain – Assessment Center scheduled on October 15 & 16, 2015.
• Fire Radio Dispatcher III – Temporary vacancy (September 1, 2015 not
to exceed August 31, 2016. Temporary appointment may lead to
conversion to permanent appointment). There were no applicants.
Further action to be determined.
2) Labor Relations
• Merit Appeals Board (MAB) hearing regarding Battalion Chief
compensation – completed on September 24 & 25, 2015.
o MAB ruled predominantly in Employers favor.
IV. Emergency Operations Division
OPERATIONS:
East Hawai‘i
• KWXX Downtown Hoolaulea-HFD personnel supported the 22nd annual
event.
• Internet Technologies/Computer Issues-1ST Battalion personnel submitted
recommendations for improvements and upgrades to the current IT
system.
• Type 3 HIAHIMT (Hawai’i Island All Hazards Incident Management
Team)-Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan workshop
attended by Gavin DeMello.
• Kulani Prison-reoccupation meeting attended by BC J. Lum on September
9, 2015.
• High Profile Incidents-missing swimmer at Boiling Pots and missing
fisherman at Kaloli point.
• Communication-all HFD units began transitioning to the new radio
system.
West Hawai‘i
• September 2, 2015 Structure Fire Ocean View Estates
• September 5, 2015 Structure Fire Mana Road- “Old Ali’I Kai Boat Shop”-
Total loss, fire cause undetermined
• September 11, 2015 Structure Fire Kaloko Drive, fire cause undetermined
• September 22, 2015 Structure Fire Makalei
• September 22, 2014 Structure Fire N. Kohala
• September 17, 2015 Missing Diver, Old Coast guard rd. N. Kohala
• Education/Training – September 1, 2015 Dam Safety and Emergency
Action Plan Workshop Hāpuna Prince.
• Community Events:
o September 5, 2015 Sayer Foundation Awards Banquet - Fairmont
Orchid
o September 7, 2015 Up County Fair Kealakekua (District 6) - Static
display
o September 11, 2015 Waikoloa Elementary School- Patriot Luncheon
o September 12, 13, 2015 MDA Fill the Boot in Waimea, Waikoloa
and Kona, respectively
o September 19, 2015 Child Passenger safety seat static display
Lanihau Center.
• Natural Disasters
o September 2-6, 2015 severe evening flooding Waikoloa, Makalei
and Kailua. CD notified and EOC activated.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS:
Hazmat:
• 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.
• Three HFD personnel attended this year’s Hazmat Continuing Challenge
on September 8-11. Awaiting a report from them regarding their
recommendations on new equipment and other response information to
assist us with product information and any new response tactics. They will
also submit a report to the LEPC as part of the requirements for their
sponsorship.
• We have received replacement sensors that were under our GCO warranty
from Rae Systems. These replacements have already paid for the cost of
the warranty since these sensors cost an average of $150-200 and we
already replaced 26 of them.
• We are still looking to replace our outdated Hazmat ID. Civil Defense has
stated in the past that they could secure DHS funds but it never
materialized. The cost to replace these are well over $100,000.
Rescue:
• There were a few incidents involving missing swimmers and divers in the
streams and ocean throughout the island.
• The annual Sayre award dinner was held on September 5, 2015 at the
Orchid at Mauna Lani. Fourteen HFD personnel received awards that
included Rescue, Ocean Safety, EMS personnel, and a Battalion Chief.
• We had a rescue Captains meeting for East Hawai‘i on September 22 and
will have a meeting in west Hawai‘i in the near future. One of the things
discussed was the updating of the Rescue field Operating Guidelines
(FOG). This will be reviewed by the rescue Captains and revised as
needed.
Ocean Safety:
• Our Rescue Water Craft program continues to pay dividends as it
conducted numerous rescues during the recent tropical storms. Waves as
high as 20-25 feet hit our eastern shores with many surfers and swimmers
out. However, there were no casualties.
• There will be a USLA Board of Directors meeting and conference in
November that will be held here on the Big Island at the Marriott.
• Three of our WSO were recently hired by the HFD on September 1, 2015.
Therefore, we are in the process of filling these vacancies.
• We have one more lifeguard tower that needs replacing. This is on the
south end of Kahalu‘u Beach. We are installing a PA system on the current
tower with a solar system. This will be transferred to our new tower when
it arrives.
V. Support Services Division
TRAINING:
• August 1st - New Fire Captain Daimen A. Hisashima assigned to Training
Bureau. Fire Apparatus Trainer position vacant.
• Selected three Recruit Training Officers for our upcoming Recruit Class, Fire
Equipment Operator Mark Spain, Fire Medical Specialist Isaiah Halemanu
and Fire Hazmat Specialist Van Medeiros. They started in the Training
Bureau on August 17th to prepare for the class.
• September 1st – 44th Fire Recruit Class Day one. Began with 24 recruits. Plan
on adding new recruit to bring up total to and ultimately graduate 25.
• A National Fire Academy Incident Safety Officer class was held in Kona on
September 17th and 18th with 23 operations personnel in attendance. Next
calendar year we have three NFA classes (Initial Fire Investigation for First
Responders, Management Strategies for Success and Preparation for Initial
Company Operations) approved and scheduled. Another class (Training
Operations in Small Departments) is pending approval.
• Hazmat Recertification with new online program complete. A little
background for those that don’t know, Target Solutions offered a free trial
period which we utilized to fulfill our annual Haztech recertification. In my
opinion, the program was a success and should be looked at as a tool to
provide continuing training opportunities. Feedback from Operations for the
most part was positive.
VOLUNTEER TRAINING:
• Fire fighter recruit orientation on October 2, 2015.
• Radio briefing meeting with AC2 on October 21, 2015.
• Initiated scheduling/installation of mobile radios for volunteer vehicles.
• Conducted Kawaihae brush fire Post Iincident Analysis with volunteer
companies.
EMS BUREAU:
• On Saturday, September 19th in recognition of National Child Passenger
Safety Week, HFD took part in clinics at three different locations around the
island. Inspection clinics were held at Hilo Target, Kona Lanihau Center and
the Waimea Fire Station. 39 vehicles were inspected, 4 replacement child
passenger seats were given out, and an additional 30 families were educated
on the standards and importance of child passenger safety.
• HFD had its first High Performance CPR documented save. Co – 4 and Medic
– 1 personnel had a witnessed cardiac arrest case and implemented the HP
CPR protocol. The patient was resuscitated in the field and transported to the
Emergency Department. The patient survived and is expected to make a full
recovery.
• EMR training was conducted for the 44th Fire Recruit Class. The 2 week long
training ended with two large scale Mass Casualty Incident exercises allowing
students to utilize their PPE and Emergency Medical Responder skills
acquired from the training.
• Supporting the KWXX downtown Hilo Ho‘olaule‘a event with EMS standby
and Fire Prevention personnel. An estimated 10,000 – 15,000 people are
anticipated to be in attendance, weather permitting. The goal is to minimize
impact to the 911 system during the event hours.
• Several DOT grants were awarded to the HFD; replacement airbags
($46,000), Traffic Incident Management System ($78,451) and continuation
of HFD’s Child Passenger Safety inspection clinics ($17,340).
• HFD’s First Watch surveillance software was installed and the Fire RMS
interfaces completed. The acceptance tests were also completed and the
system is ready to go live following some training. The First Watch program
will provide valuable data regarding resource allocation, dispatch times, unit
chute times etc…that will be monitored by elected supervisors in real time.
PREVENTION BUREAU:
• Prevention personnel took the Certified Fire Plans Examiner Test through
NFPA on September 11, 2015.
• Prevention Bureau continuing inspections of all restaurants and
apartment/condos buildings island wide.
• Prevention Bureau continuing smoke detector/home inspection program.
• FPB Investigated 8 fires during the month of September.
• Prevention Bureau Personnel destroyed approximately 4,700 lbs. of fireworks
received through unwanted collection from the public and damage products
from fireworks vendors.
• Approximately 18,000 Firefighter Safety Guide Booklets were delivered to
Elementary school students in Grades K-6 Island-wide for our Annual
program for Fire Prevention week which is in October.
AUXILLIARY SERVICES
Dispatch:
• Fire Radio Dispatcher I examination September 22 (Kona), September 23
(Hilo).
• MOA vacation selection for 2016 consultation completed.
• 911 Back up phones changed out; replaces by Hawaiian Tel researched and
request for order cord to adapt to headset compatible.
• Temporary Assignment for FRD III – no candidates for the position.
Maintenance Shop:
• 80 total repair/service
• 27 service calls or trouble calls
• 8 jobs contracted out
Warehouse:
• Inventory of mobile and portable radios purchased via County Radio
Contract.
VI. New Projects/Business
• Continuing work on Incident Management Team
• Continue to work with Mayors office on Green Initiatives
• Initial research on replacement Honokaa Fire Station
• Continuing with Community Injury Prevention inspections
• Researching Community Based EMS
VII. Employee/Public Relations
• IronMan World Championships October 10, 2015
o HFD inititated task force to handle public safety around event
corridor
▪ 4 EMS Teams
▪ Rescue Helicopter and Boat
▪ Liaisons in the Race Operations Center