HomeMy WebLinkAbout_2016 Chief's Report for February Meeting (to Josie)CHIEF’S REPORT (02/10/2016)
I. Budget
• FY 2015/2016
o Final Bids on BC vehicles
o CBA increases
• FY 2016/2017
o Initial Budget Meeting held with Finance Director and Budget Staff
o Supplemental Budget Request update
II. Alternative Funding and Grant
• 2014 AFG Operations Grant
• Driver Training Simulator Project
• Simulator delivered
• Operator training has begun
• 2014 CDBG
• Pahala Brush Truck apparatus
• Apparatus in service effective December 11, 2015
• 2015 CDBG
• Received notification of awarding of Grant Project
• Pahoa Brush Truck Apparatus Project
• Notice to Proceed executed to expected vendor.
• Pre- Construction for Chassis held February 3, 2016
• Pre-Construction for body/pump and site inspection scheduled for
week of February 15-20, 2016 at KME Plant.
• 2016 CDBG
• Application submitted for a Wildland Pumper Apparatus with
Compressed Air/Foam capabilities for Pahala Fire Station.
• Initial conversations with Grant administrator revealed Grant
funding will need to be reduced in order to accommodate other
grant request
• Reduced funding proposal accepted to move forward
• 2016 AFG Operations Grant
• Application submitted for department wide SCBA replacement
• Captain Ebersole completed and submitted the AFG application for
replacement SCBA equipment. Total amount of the grant is $1.5
million with a 10% matching funds of $136 thousand dollars.
III. Human Resources Division
1) Recruitments
Open-competitive recruitments
• Fire Radio Dispatcher I – seven new hires started February 1, 2016.
• Account Clerk – Interviews scheduled on February 9, 2016.
Internal within department recruitment
• Fire Prevention Inspector II – Promotion effective February 16, 2016.
o Fire Prevention Inspector Kyle Vares promoted
• Battalion Chief (Emergency Operations) – Promotion effective
February 16, 2016.
o Fire Captain Darwin Okinaka promoted
• Battalion Chief (Auxiliary Services) – Assessment Center completed.
Selection pending.
• Fire Rescue Specialist – Recruitment conducted January 20-29, 2016.
IV. Emergency Operations Division
OPERATIONS:
East Hawai‘i
1) Rainbow Falls - January 12, 2016, BC-1, Medic 1, Company 2 and Company
4 responded to Rainbow Falls for two people that jumped off the falls.
Company 4 was on scene to assess the situation and setup the landing zone in
anticipation of Company 2’s arrival. Chopper 1 deployed two Fire Rescue
Specialists to rescue two women and safely extract them from the shoreline.
Medic 1 personnel treated and transported one woman that sustained injuries.
2) Keanakolu ATV Accident - January 17, 2016, BC Jerry Lum led a multi-
company incident of an ATV accident at Keanakolu. Through his efforts,
Medic 1, Medic 3, Medic 5, Chopper 1, Chopper 2, Company 4 and Company
50 were able to safely complete the mission of transporting four patients, to
medical facilities from this remote area.
3) Type 3 HIAHIMT (Hawai‘i Island All Hazards Incident
Management Team) - EOC support with completing Incident Action Plans
(IAPs) for the Dengue Outbreak. This opportunity allows the team members
to apply their knowledge and experience in a serious biological threat to
residents and visitors alike.
4) Type 3 HIAHIMT (Hawai‘i Island All Hazards Incident
Management Team)-On January 21, 2016 Gavin DeMello attended the
Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan (SCIP) workshop. This
strategic level workshop allows the County of Hawai‘i to be in compliance with
the goal of regional emergency communication.
5) OSHA Compliant Confined Space Training-High Profile Incidents-
HFD members completed confined space training to remain OSHA compliant.
West Hawai‘i
1) Incidents:
a. 01/04/16 Person pinned in tree; Keōkea Road, North Kohala fatality.
b. 01/20/16 Brush fire (250 acres) Kaiminani Drive in Kailua-Kona.
2) Education/Training/Company Activities:
a. 01/26/16 US Coast Guard Emergency response plan meeting.
b. 01/19/16 Pre Fire Planning drill at HPA Ladder 14 and Company 9.
c. 01/12/16 Pre Fire Planning drill at Lapakahi State Park with Company
15.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS:
Hazmat:
1) The Hawai‘i County LEPC has approved funding for the purchase of
radiological meters from Ludlum. The request was submitted and is going
through the procurement process.
2) There was an Army National Guard Combat Support Team exercise on Maui
during the week of January 12 through 15 and our IMT participated in
creating an IAP for this exercise as well as having Special Operations Battalion
Chief Kosaki assist the CST Team with evaluating the Maui response.
o Hawai‘i CST Drill set for period surrounding the Merrie Monarch
Festival.
3) There is a Medical Preparedness and Response to Bombing Incidents class at
Hilo Medical Center in April that we are sending our hazmat team Captains
and Battalion Chiefs to this class.
Rescue:
1) We are in the process of setting up a class for confined space rescues. We are
awaiting the air monitor attachment that will be used at confined space
incidents and will be ordering more equipment to supplement this training.
2) Many of the equipment purchased from the Sayre Foundation have arrived.
We are awaiting the resolution that will need to be approved prior to using the
equipment.
3) We are in the process of updating of the rescue Field Operating Guidelines
(FOG). This will be reviewed by the rescue Captains and will be revised as
needed.
4) We had a meeting with Admiral Vince Atkins from the USCG and discussed
many ocean and water related concerns regarding SAR missions in our ocean
and waterways.
Ocean Safety:
1) The Drowning and Aquatic Injury Prevention Advisory Committee (formally
known as the Ocean and Water Safety Advisory Committee) will hold their
next meeting on March 1, 2016. A task force will be identified to help curb the
amount of drownings and spinal injuries across the state for both resident and
non-residents. Special Operations Battalion Chief Kosaki will attend.
2) We submitted a proposal to expand our Rescue Water Craft program. This
would give us the capability of coverage for all of our districts of guarded
beaches.
o This proposal was denied by Finance Department in budget review.
3) We have one more lifeguard tower that needs replacing. This is on the south
end of Kahalu‘u Beach. This tower is going out for bid soon and we are
working on the necessary permits that we will need for this tower
replacement.
4) We will be starting our Rescue Water Craft Crewperson (Grabber) classes
soon. This will give us additionally trained personnel to work with the RWC
certified Operators.
V. Support Services Division
TRAINING:
1) 44th Firefighter recruit class on schedule and progressing as expected.
2) All 25 Recruits passed driver training closed course. Started the 40 hours of
road driving.
3) Driver Simulator arrived on January 4, 2016. Acceptance testing and training
on schedule.
4) Selection complete for upcoming 2016 Hazardous Materials Technician Class.
a. Received complaint from HFFA on limited selection
b. Resolved complaint through consultations.
5) All 25 Recruits successfully passed swim week.
6) Multiple T/A FEO Audits completed with more scheduled in February.
VOLUNTEER TRAINING:
1) Completed the first half of First Aid Training to 20 volunteer companies.
2) Reviewing of County Policies and Procedures.
3) Completed distribution of volunteer award money.
EMS BUREAU:
1) EMS Bureau continued with its support of the “Fight the Bite” campaign in
both Miloli‘i fishing village, HOVE, Waipi‘o Valley and Kapoho. As part of the
Multi-Disciplinary Team and in partnership with Department of Health
Public Health Nurses, the team assisted with public outreach, handed out
repellents and conducted field screenings and evaluations.
2) EMS Team Met with Fire Chief to discuss EMS program request for 2016 –17.
Topics of discussion include:
- Expansion of EMS Bureau presence in West Hawai‘i
- Introduction of Bills to the legislature for additional ambulance services in
Puna and Makalei
- EKG replacement program and lease options
o Meeting scheduled with State EMS Chief Dr. Bronstein to discuss
proposal and funding support.
- HFD Hands Only CPR program and Be a Life Saver Hawai‘i update and
request for assistance
- Pilot Basic Life Support ambulance option / consideration for Puna
District
3) Hands Only CPR Training in schools ongoing:
- EB DeSilva Elementary faculty
- Pāhoa High School students
- Kea‘au Elementary School faculty
- Waiākea High School
- Kealakehe High School
4) Working in partnership with PTA Firefighter / MICT student James
Yamanoha to set up clinical and internship hours on Medic – 5 under the
guidance and supervision of FMS Keone Roback. PTA FF Yamanoha is in
need of 50 ALS patient contacts and 200 clinical hours to complete his
McCook MICT training program.
5) MICT Class is wrapping up its clinical training on island and are scheduled to
move to Oahu for specialized clinical and internship training beginning
January 30, 2016. Students will rotate through Queens Medical Center
Emergency Department, OR, and Kapi‘olani Women’s and Children’s hospital
for specialized clinical training. From there, students will begin two months of
internship on City and County of Honolulu EMS ambulances. Students are
scheduled to return in May for the final two months of internship here on
HFD ambulances.
PREVENTION BUREAU:
1) There were 1649 firework permits sold this New Year’s.
2) There were four fireworks displays at the West Hawai‘i hotels for New Year’s.
3) The Fire Prevention Bureau Investigated 4 fires that were all brush fires in
West Hawai‘i.
4) Two personnel attended National Fire Academy: Captain Kazuo Todd
attended two Fire Investigation classes and Fire Inspector Kyle Vares
attended a Fire Sprinkler class.
5) The Fire Prevention Bureau continued with the smoke detector program along
with conducting maintenance inspections of commercial businesses.
VI. New Projects/Business
• Increasing Grant Research and applications due to outlook of FY 16/17
budget.
• Meeting with new State EMS Director to propose EMS Community Based
Supervisor position for West Hawai‘i as well as Basic Life Support Units to
augment 0ur Advanced Life Support Units.
• Utilizing Grant funding earmarked for training to send personnel to
Wildland training conferences that County funding could not support.
• Providing additional training opportunities to members of HFD All
Hazard Incident Management Team with Maui Fire AHIMT during
upcoming Hazmat Drill and Prescribed Live Burn exercise. Funding
provided through grant opportunities.
VII. Employee/Public Relations
• Exchange Club of Hilo Annual Firefighter of the year award ceremony set
for March. Memo requesting nominations for Fire Chiefs Selection went
out.
• Employee disciplinary actions.
• Violence in the Workplace complaint under investigation involving
two Fire Division Personnel.
• Failure to perform/prepare for duty investigation near completion
for Water Safety Division Personnel.
• Department received a HIOSH Citation for incident related to the
extrication of a victim from a confined space.
• Informal meeting held with HIOSH to request reduction in fines
• All Compliance measures undertaken