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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7030_02 HFD Shark Attack and Sighting Draft7030.02 HFD Shark Attack and Sighting Policy Implemented: July 15, 2016 Revised: July 30, 2025 Page 1 of 4 This procedure is for internal use only and does not enlarge an employee’s civil liability in any way. The procedure should not be construed as creating a higher duty of care, in an evidentiary sense, with respect to third party civil claims against employees. A violation of this procedure, if proven, can only form the basis of a complaint by this department for non-judicial administrative action in accordance with the laws governing employee discipline. Referenced documents: Policy 2016-041; Major policy affecting employee relations: No Union(s) to consult: N/A Responsible for Update: 1st Safety Specialist; 2nd Special Ops; 3rd WSO V I. PURPOSE The purpose of these policy is to establish accepted actions governing the response of Hawai'i Fire Department (HFD) personnel to a shark attack or sighting incident. II. APPLICABILITY This policy shall apply to all HFD personnel who may respond to a shark attack or sighting incident as part of their normal duties. Shark sightings are becoming increasingly more common near the shoreline off the Big Island. During the course of the normal work shift, HFD personnel may be required to respond to assist a shark attack victim or to identify and confirm the presence of a shark. III. PROCEDURES In the event of any shark sighting or possible sighting by a member of the public, the Water Safety Officer, HFD personnel, or other Public Safety Official shall interview all of the witnesses with claims of the shark sighting, gather and document the following information: • Size • Shape • Color • Approximate distance from shore • Location last seen • Direction heading and behavior (feeding etc.) • Any actions taken by the Water Safety Officer, HFD personnel, or other Public Safety Officer A. Confirmed Shark Sighting The procedure for a "Confirmed Shark Sighting" at a beach that has HFD Ocean Safety Lifeguards on duty is as follows: For the purpose of this policy a "confirmed shark sighting" will be defined as presence of a shark by either of the following: • Water Safety Officer • Hawai'i Fire Department personnel • Other Public Safety Official (DLNR, HPD etc.) • Any credible witness after an interview by a Water Safety Officer or other Public Safety personnel Upon a confirmed shark sighting, the Water Safety Officer on duty shall evacuate all patrons from the water, post "shark sighting" signs on the beach, and prevent any further access by the public. 7030.02 HFD Shark Attack and Sighting Policy Implemented: July 15, 2016 Revised: July 30, 2025 Page 2 of 4 1. The Water Safety Officer shall notify the Water Safety Officer IV Captain or designee who will notify the Special Operations Battalion Chief of the confirmed sighting and any actions taken by the Water Safety Officer. If the WSO IV Captain or Battalion Chief cannot be contacted, the Water Safety Officer shall contact the Fire Communications Control Center (dispatch) directly. 2. Fire Dispatch shall contact the respective Operations Battalion Chief on duty who will arrange to do a helicopter surveillance up to one mile along the coastline in both directions from the last sighting and up to 200 yards offshore or to the end of any extended reefs. This surveillance to be done at least 2 hours after the initial sighting. The helicopter crew shall report all findings to dispatch for all information gathered as stated above. Dispatch shall then notify the Special Operations Battalion Chief or the Water Safety Officer IV Captain of all findings. 3. Dispatch shall notify the appropriate authorities identified below to advise them of the situation and of the actions taken. Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Aquatics Division: John Kahiapo - 938-8265 or 934-7210 and the DLNR office - 961-9530 DLNR- Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) Office: • East Hawai'i Office: 933-3460, • Waimea Office: 887-6198, • Honokohau Office: 327-4961 If no contact is made, call the respective district supervisor: • East Hawai 'i: James Weller - 960-8978 • West Hawai'i: Dale Viloria- 987-9019 • North Hawai'i: Verl Nakama- 217-1056 If still no contact is made, call Lino Kamakau, DLNR Branch Chief- 987-4616 Civil Defense: Ed Teixeira- 935-0031 After hours contact HPD dispatch at 935-3311. HPD will contact the appropriate CD personnel following their call list. Department of Parks and Recreation: Clayton Honma-961-8311, 937-9873, or 960-6634 James Komata - 961-8311, 936-8681, or 936-0200 Hawai'i Police Department: Dispatch - 935-3311 A helicopter surveillance shall be repeated at 1300 hours if the time from the last sighting was longer than two hours. If at that time the helicopter surveillance reveals no shark sighting, the Water Safety Officer on duty may reopen the beach. If the helicopter surveillance reports a sighting of sharks in the area, the beaches will remain closed for the remainder of the day. If 7030.02 HFD Shark Attack and Sighting Policy Implemented: July 15, 2016 Revised: July 30, 2025 Page 3 of 4 the beaches are still closed at the end of the day, a helicopter surveillance shall be done on the next day at 0830 hours prior to beach opening. The procedure for a "Confirmed Shark Sighting" at a beach that does not have HFD Ocean Safety Lifeguards on duty is as follows: 1. Upon receiving the call, dispatch will gather the information describing the shark to confirm its presence. 2. Dispatch shall notify DLNR using the contact information identified above. A DLNR representative will gather information and make a decision on what actions to take (flyover, close/evacuate beach etc.) DLNR personnel shall respond to the affected beaches and notify beach patrons. 3. If the affected beach is on a private property, dispatch shall attempt to make contact with the owner or designee if known and notify them of the situation. 4. In the event that dispatch cannot make contact with DLNR or a DLNR representative is not available to respond, the in-district engine company will be dispatched and the respective Battalion Chief will be notified. A helicopter surveillance will be done at the request of the responding company officer or Battalion Chief based on the information obtained. B. Unconfirmed Shark Sighting The procedure for an "Unconfirmed Shark Sighting" is as follows: For the purpose of this policy "unconfirmed shark sighting" is defined as a report from a civilian of a possible shark sighting that lacks a detailed description (size, shape, color, behavior, number, or location last seen). 1. Upon receiving a report of a possible shark sighting, the Water Safety Officer on duty shall notify all patrons in the water of the possible sighting, post "shark sighting" signs on the beach, and advise any beach patrons entering the water of the possible sighting. 2. The Water Safety Officer shall notify the Water Safety Officer IV Captain or designee who will notify the Special Operations Battalion Chief of the possible sighting and any actions taken by the Water Safety Officer. If the WSO IV Captain or Battalion Chief cannot be contacted, the Water Safety Officer shall contact the Fire Communications Control Center ( dispatch) directly. 3. The Water Safety Officer on duty shall then maintain surveillance of the area where the shark was reported to be last seen for a minimum of two hours. If no sightings are seen in that time, the Water Safety Officer may take the "shark sighting" signs down; however, the WSO on duty would still have the option of keeping the signs up on the beach as a precautionary measure. If a shark is sighted during this two hour surveillance, the confirmed shark sighting protocol shall be activated. The procedure for an "Unconfirmed Shark Sighting" at a beach that does not have HFD Ocean Safety Lifeguards on duty, the protocol will be the same as the "Confirmed Shark Sighting" at an unguarded beach procedures described above. C. Shark Attack The procedure for a "Shark Attack" at any beach whether it does or does not have HFD Ocean Safety Lifeguards on duty is as follows: 7030.02 HFD Shark Attack and Sighting Policy Implemented: July 15, 2016 Revised: July 30, 2025 Page 4 of 4 Upon receiving a report of a shark attack, the procedure for a "confirmed shark sighting" will be used with the exception of the following: 1. Activate 911 immediately and respond the appropriate engine company and ALS medic unit available. 2. Assess victim and treat all life threatening injuries. 3. Obtain all evidence including personal items involved and keep it secure for DLNR inspection. 4. Close the beach and park for the entire day and do a helicopter surveillance of the area. Conduct another helicopter surveillance the next day at 1100 hours. If there are no shark sightings at that time, the beach may be reopened at 1200 hours.