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Home My WebLink AboutFIRE CHIEF'S REPORT FY 25-26 SEPT 2025 | SEPTEMBER FISCAL YEAR 25-26 FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT HAWAI’I FIRE DEPARTMENT 25 AUPUNI ST., SUITE 2501 HILO, HAWAI’I 96720 FIRE@HAWAIICOUNTY.GOV Chief’s Office Report ............................................................................................................................... 3 Fiscal Branch Report ................................................................................................................................ 3 Grants Report ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Human Resources Branch Report ....................................................................................................... 5 Emergency Operations Division .......................................................................................................... 7 Special Operations Branch .................................................................................................................... 8 Ocean Safety Branch ............................................................................................................................... 8 Emergency Medical Services Branch ................................................................................................. 9 Training Services Branch ...................................................................................................................... 10 Volunteer Services Section .................................................................................................................. 11 Fire Prevention Section ......................................................................................................................... 11 Auxiliary Services Section .................................................................................................................... 12 Vehicle Maintenance Section ............................................................................................................. 13 Emergency Communications Branch............................................................................................... 13 SNAPSHOTS AND STORIES ..................................................................................................................... 14 fall 2025 promotional ceremony ....................................................................................................... 14 Emergency Operations Highlights ................................................................................................... 15 Aviation Operations ............................................................................................................................... 15 Notable Rescue Responses: ................................................................................................................ 16 Ocean Safety Highlights ....................................................................................................................... 16 Volunteers in Action! ............................................................................................................................. 16 Fire Prevention highlights ................................................................................................................... 17 Safety Program ........................................................................................................................................ 18 Conferences and Connection ............................................................................................................. 19 Stay Connected! ...................................................................................................................................... 20 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2025 | SEPTEMBER PAGE 3 CHIEF’S OFFICE REPORT Section Report by Chief’s Office Program Budget Objectives September YTD Goal Maintain >95% current policies, procedures, and MOU, MOA, MAA. No Data No Data >95% FISCAL BRANCH REPORT Section Report by: Fire Accountant IV Program Budget Objectives QTR YTD Goal Maintain budget variance within ±10% of projections for each major cost center per QTR. No data No data ±10% Lead monthly budget meetings No data No data 12 Budget Adj Appr YTD Exp % Used Goal Total Budget $76,853,168 $12,867,787 16.74% GRANTS REPORT Section Report by: Fiscal Division Program Measures September YTD Goal Dollar value of grants applied for $2,663,506.00 $7,060,254.00 $5,000,000 Dollar value of grants received $2,678,274.60 $2,678,274.60 $1,000,000 Grants Purpose Award Amt Spent YTD Update 23 CDBG (3) Brush Trucks $625,693 $625,693 Delivered and paid CDBG-MIT (3) Brush Trucks IFB 4700 (Delivered); Mobile Service Trailer IFB 4701 (Delivered 9/15/25); Mobile Command Vehicle (in bid process) $891,420 $50,575 $1,000,000 $891,420 $50,575 $1,000,000 Rebel Strike LLC Hawaii Specialty Veh Out for Bid FY23 AFG (08/2024-08/2026) Hazard Zone (IDLH) Incident. Command and a Control Training Program $488,722 $79,564 16.28% spent as of 6/30/25. CoHnect project pending. 23 VFA IFB 4520 Bid awarded to Orchid Isle Ford for 2 Brush Trucks. County match $278,590 $278,590 $73,041 Delivery pending. 24 VFA Supplies and equipment continue to arrive $317,800 $159,533 Pending approval of time extension request Leleiwi Lifeguard Tower (Fair Share Funds) Surveyor Jr. lifeguard tower furnished by Newport Laminates $54,785 $0 Delivery expected in early 2026. Fair Share Fund Allotment request for funds to design a Mechanic Shop $684,000 $0 Allotment request in process 2025 | SEPTEMBER PAGE 4 Grant Name Submission Deadline Purpose Est. Request FY25 SAFER 4/20/2025 Personnel 12 firefighters positions $2,700,000 FY25 AFG 5/20/2025 Radios $1,750,000 FY25 FP&S 5/20/2025 Prevention equipment $50,000 FY25 HMGP – PF 8/20/2025 Electrical Power Redundancy – 11 stations $11,000,000 Program Highlights: Grants Project Accounting: The only project currently created in the FY26 CoHnect System is the EMS Grant. Once CoHnect has set up projects for each grant, the system should provide more complete and accurate information for sharing and report preparation. Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) Phase 3 of the grant was awarded this month. Hawaii Fire Department Defensible Space grant proposal for $2,794,005.00 received a score of 86.67 which unfortunately did not meet the cut off for funding. Competition was high and only three CWDG grants were awarded in Hawaii. Two for community wildfire protection plans for Maui, and one for a Fire Adapted Hawaii County which will help fund Firewise coordinators positions on Hawaii Island for the next five years. This grant will be managed by HWMO. SAFER 2025 The Hawaii Fire Department has been officially awarded the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant. This grant will support the addition of new personnel to strengthen our operational capacity and reduce response times. We are currently working through the administrative and hiring processes, with the goal of bringing staff onboard by either August or February, depending on the recruitment timeline and fiscal coordination. AFG & FP&S 2025 The Hawaii Fire Department was not selected for award under this year’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program or the Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant programs. While this outcome is disappointing, we remain committed to pursuing future AFG opportunities and other funding sources to support our equipment modernization and safety initiatives. 2025 | SEPTEMBER PAGE 5 HUMAN RESOURCES BRANCH REPORT Section Report by: Fire Human Resources Program Specialist FY 2025/26 Calendar Rank Recruitment Exam/PAE Assessment Notes Assistant Chief 09/28-10/7/2025 N/A Can begin 11/27/25 Battalion Chief Operations TBD TBD TBD Battalion Chief Prevention N/A N/A N/A No anticipated vacancies in FY 26-27 Battalion Chief Auxiliary Services N/A N/A N/A No anticipated vacancies in FY 26-27 Battalion Chief Communications N/A N/A N/A No anticipated vacancies in FY 26-27 Battalion Chief EMS N/A N/A N/A No anticipated vacancies in FY 26-27 WSO V N/A N/A N/A No anticipated vacancies in FY 26-27 Captain Operations 12/7/2025 2/10/2025 3/9-11/2026 Captain Training N/A N/A N/A No anticipated vacancies in FY 26-27 Captain Volunteer Services TBD TBD TBD Captain Prevention N/A N/A N/A No anticipated vacancies in FY 26-27 Captain Communications TBD TBD TBD FMS III N/A N/A N/A No anticipated vacancies in FY 26-27 WSO IV N/A N/A N/A 1 employee moves into role 10/16/25 Fire Prevention Inspector II N/A N/A N/A No anticipated vacancies in FY 26-27 WSO III 05/23-06/01/25 10/26/24 10/26/25 4 employees move into roles 11/16/25 Fire Equipment Operator 10/12/2025 1/6/2026 2/24-26/2026 Fire Apparatus Trainer TBD TBD TBD Fire Prevention Inspector I N/A N/A N/A No anticipated vacancies in FY 26-27 Fire Training Specialist TBD TBD TBD FMS II 10/5/-10/14/2025 N/A 11/07/2025 Fire Rescue Specialist TBD TBD TBD Hazardous Materials Tech 10/19/2025 1/13/2026 3/3/2026 *Version one of an annual recruitment calendar 2025 | SEPTEMBER PAGE 6 Program Measure Month YTD Vacancy Rate Total 12% 10% Vacancy Rate Admin & Support 9 9 Vacancy Rate Fire 13 15 Vacancy Rate EMS 9 9 Vacancy Rate Communications 16 16 Vacancy Rate Ocean Safety 14 14 Program Budget Objectives Month YTD Goal Efficient response to human resource queries 100% of 69 100% (89) <2 Days Active Avg Days Goal Average internal investigations completion in days 5 120+* <60 days Rate Avg % Yr Goal Maintain a vacancy rate below 7% 12% 10% <36 PV Active Recruitments by HFD Position Status Report Assistant Fire Chief Job Posted September 28, 2025 (Internal). Fire/EMS Specialist II Job Description Finalized September 30, 2025. Fire Captain Offer Accepted September 3, 2025. Start date set. Fire Equipment Operator Offer Accepted September 7, 2025. Start date set. Water Safety Officer IV Department Interviews September 12, 2025. Water Safety Officer III Department Interviews September 26, 2025. Water Safety Officer Is Candidates Selected September 30, 2025. Account Clerks Application Screening (HR/Civil Service) September 25, 2025. Clerk IIIs Department Interviews September 26, 2025. Lead Fire Equipment Mechanic Job Posted September 14, 2025 (Internal). Professional Trainee – Info/Edu Specialist Position Filled September 16, 2025. Professional Trainee – Grants Recruitment Delayed September 30, 2025. Fire Communications Officer I Offers Extended September 30, 2025. *Several investigations are being carried out outside of the HR Branch, which is why exact data is not available. 2025 | SEPTEMBER PAGE 7 EMERGENCY OPERATIONS DIVISION Section Report by: Assistant Chief of Operations Budget Category Adj Appropriation YTD Expenditures % Used Goal Fire 62101 S&W $34,967,374 $10,592,338 30% 29% 62102 OCE $2,092,005 No Data No Data 25% 62106 Equipment $1,900,177 No Data No Data 25% Fire - Heli S&W $644,386 No Data No Data 29% 62112+62742 OCE $862,907 No data No data 25% 62116+62746 Equipment $20,000 No data No data 25% Program Budget Objectives September YTD Goal 95% of all assigned training completed 84.76% 82.81% >95% Daily Vehicle Checks 90% (OPS) 42.06% 48.63% >90% Chute time 02:12 02:12 <01:20 99% Report completion within 10 days. 98.00% 98.07% >99% Total Calls for Calendar Year 2025 September YTD % Fire 115 865 3.7% EMS 1,708 16,320 70.5% Other 632 5,946 25.8% Totals 2,455 23,131 100% Year 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 (est.) Total Calls 25,015 27,398 29,594 30,738 31,143 30,841 Program Measures Sept. % < 80 secs YTD % < 80 secs Avg. Turn out time (Fire) 02:26 12.39% 02:26 15.75% Avg. Turn out time (EMS) 02:08 16.66% 02:18 18.24% Program Measures Sept. % < 9 mins YTD % < 9 mins Avg. Response Time (Fire) 12:35 40.35% 11:34 48.38% Avg. Response Time (EMS) 09:12 58.31% 09:10 59.65% Call Type September YTD Wildland calls (140, 141, 142, 143) 36 225 Acres burned 30 392 Structure Fires (110 & 111) 10 59 Property and Contents - Loss $670,500 $4,401,325 Property and Contents - Save $1,243,700 $5,188,225 Other fires (all other 100 series) 69 581 Property and Contents - Loss $8,000 $1,029,350 Property and Contents - Save $13,995,000 $33,702,700 2025 | SEPTEMBER PAGE 8 SPECIAL OPERATIONS BRANCH Section Report by: Battalion Chief of Special Operations Budget Category Adj Appropriation YTD Expenditures % Used Goal 6223* OCE $161,625 No data No data 25% Equipment $192,920 No data No data 25% *sub-budget within auxiliary service budget Program Budget Objectives Month YTD Goal Aircraft Operational Uptime >90% 86% 91% > 90% Review & update SOP/SOG within cycle 0 0 >100% Arrange annual HazTech Course 0 1 per Y Maintain minimum proficiency training hours Rescue 288 784 3,000 Maintain minimum proficiency training hours Hazmat 0 296 600 Maintain minimum proficiency training hours Air Ops 0 9.2 30 OCEAN SAFETY BRANCH Section Report by: Water Safety Officer V Budget Category Adj Appropriation YTD Expenditures % Used Goal Ocean Safety S&W $3,903,244.00 $1,004,077 26% 29% 6228 OCE $364,000 No data No data N/A Equipment $425,736 No data No data N/A Program Measures (Metrics) September YTD/# of people Number of Beach Visitors 272,808 2,399,800 Number of Preventative Actions 281 2,449 Number of Minor Medical Aids 211 1,802 Number of Major Medical Aids (Transports) 7 58 Number of Rescues 51 497 Program Budget Objectives Current Goal Certified Rescue Water Craft Operators >9 3 9 Provide 80% staffed tower hours to daylight 75% 80% Maintain Updated Policies and Procedures (10) No Data 100% 2025 | SEPTEMBER PAGE 9 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES BRANCH Section Report by: Battalion Chief of EMS Budget Category Adj Appropriation YTD Expenditures % Used Goal EMS S&W $10,392,294 $2,484,590.64 23.91% 29% 6227 OCE $2,767,608 $20,309.61 0.73% 25% Equipment $1,778,900 $0 0% 25% Program Measures September YTD Rosc Rate 4% 6.9% Call Volume ALS Transport 937 17,763 Call Volume BLS Transport 420 4,074 Program Budget Objectives September YTD Goal Less than 10% paramedic Vacancy rate 8% (4) 8% <15% Quality review of 95% of Critical Calls 15% 20% 100% Maintain a fleet of >8 Spare medics 11 11 >8 Spare Program Highlights: EMS Branch • The EMS Branch met with the Mayor’s Office and Office of Housing & Community Development to explore integrating Hawaiʻi Fire Department’s Community Paramedicine Program to support the County’s at-risk residents. • Hawaiʻi Life Flight conducted a meeting to discuss integration of their services for interfacility transfers, particularly for cardiac transports between Queen’s North Hawaiʻi Community Hospital and Hilo Benioff Medical Center. • EMS Branch personnel assisted the Prevention Branch at the Four Seasons Health & Wellness Fair on September 8th. • On September 18th, EMS Branch personnel participated in the Hilo Airport Triennial Exercise. • On September 20th, EMS Branch personnel provided standby medical support for the Alzheimer’s Association Walk at Liliuokalani Gardens. • The two replacement EMS SUVs have departed Honolulu and are expected to arrive on island shortly. • EMS Shopify Store – Supply Orders Data for the Month of September: 56 orders, approximately 48K in gross order sales 2025 | SEPTEMBER PAGE 10 TRAINING SERVICES BRANCH Section Report by: Assistant Chief of Operations Budget Category Adj Appropriation YTD Expenditures % Used Goal Fire Training S&W $821,168 $110,445 13.45 % 29% 6224 OCE $236,060 No data No data N/A Equipment $2,500 No data No data N/A Program Budget Objectives FF 1 & 2 Wildland Driver Training Ensure all recruits graduate with minimum certifications In progress Spring 2026 Spring 2026 Program Budget Objectives September YTD Goal Professional Development 46 personnel 68 personnel 50 personnel Incident Command Training Spring 2026 No Data 100% compliance Structural Firefighting Training 15 personnel 15 personnel 75 personnel Wildland Firefighting Training 3 personnel 3 personnel pending funding Program Highlights: Training Branch • The month of September marked the start of the 54th Recruit Class, which began with instructional chapters covering fire hose, hose operations, fire suppression, and salvage/overhaul. Skills training for the month focused on hose deployments (rig to door and door to seat), nozzle operations, and hose management based on the Nozzle Forward curriculum, emphasizing the primary functions of Engine Companies. The final two weeks of September were dedicated to preparing recruits for Pro Board skills testing scheduled for October 3rd. • Lesson plans, outlines, PowerPoint presentations, skill sheets, and safety guidelines were developed for the fourth quarter Company-Level Training. This quarter’s curriculum includes Forcible Entry, Structural Search, RIT Basics, and the Wildland RT-130 Module 4. The total training requirement for Operations during the fourth quarter is 20 hours. • The Engine Company Operations cadre also prepared to deliver the Engine Operations program to Companies 9, 14, and 16. Preparations included teach- backs, skill reviews, and logistical coordination. The first class is scheduled for B Shift on September 30th. • Additionally, Training Branch personnel attended several professional development opportunities in September, including a one-week ICS 300/400 course, as well as a two-week Wildland Operations course hosted by the Pōhakuloa Fire Department. 2025 | SEPTEMBER PAGE 11 VOLUNTEER SERVICES SECTION Section Report by: Senior Volunteer Services Captain Budget Category Adj Appropriation YTD Expenditures % Used Goal Fire Volunteer S&W $248,464.00 $50,674 20% 29% 6225 OCE No data No data No data 25% Equipment 0.00 0.00 0.00% No data Program Measures Added this month Total Total Volunteers 0 112 Program Budget Objectives September YTD Goal Apply to two or more grants per year 0 1 >2 Manage, and Expend Grants Completely 0% 90% 100% Compliance of Online Training of Volunteers 1% 45% 75% Maintain 1 spare qualified driver per volunteer station 0 32 51 FIRE PREVENTION SECTION Section Report by: Battalion Chief of Fire Prevention Budget Category Adj Appropriation YTD Expenditures % Used Goal Fire Prevention S&W $1,148,168 $252072.42 25.15 29% 6222 OCE $44,184 No Data No data 25% Program Measures September YTD Last Year Comp Inspections - Occupancy 36 60 N/A* Public Education Events 6 31 N/A* Plans Reviewed 46 407 N/A* Fire Investigations 3 6 N/A* Complaints Investigated 4 22 N/A* Average Plan Review Time in Days 10.5 10.5 N/A* Program Budget Objectives Sept. YTD Goal Average plans reviewed < 14 days 9.9 days 10.5 days <14 Days Public Education min 2 a month 6 31 24 Maintain CFIT Designation for 2 personnel min 1 1 2 Fire Inspection of High Hazard >6 per month 6 15 72 / year EPR property list input @ 60 updates a month 36 159 720 / year *YTD totals were not available as a new EPR system changeover occurred 2025 | SEPTEMBER PAGE 12 AUXILIARY SERVICES SECTION Section Report by: Battalion Chief of Auxiliary Services Budget Category Adj Appropriation YTD Expenditures % Used Goal Auxiliary S&W $446,102 $115,796 26% 29% 6223 OCE $1,469,520 No Data No Data No Data Equipment $809,020 No Data No Data No Data Program Measures September YTD Monthly Total Order 118 373 Gross Product Sent to Dept $35,311 $191,888 total Number of variants available in warehouse 408 No Data Variants Items in stock 331 No Data Program Budget Objectives September YTD Goal Expenditure of OCE budget to 99% by end of fiscal No Data No Data 99% Encumbrance of Equip budget to 90% by end of second quarter No Data No Data 90% @ 2nd In stock percent > 90% for all warehouse variants 81% No Data >90% Average fulfillment within 10 working days or less* 6.7 days No Data <10 days *This does not account for weekends or holidays (date ordered to fulfillment + 3.5days for delivery) 2025 | SEPTEMBER PAGE 13 VEHICLE MAINTENANCE SECTION Section Report by: Chief Mechanic Budget Category Adj Appropriation YTD Expenditures % Used Goal Auxiliary S&W $606,893 No Data No Data 29% 62322 OCE $383,792 No Data No Data 25% 62326 Equipment $25,000 No Data No Data 25% *sub-budget within auxiliary service budget Program Measures Month YTD LY YTD Number of Repairs 283 827 Next month Service Calls 40 120 Next month Contracted Work or Tows 18 57 Next month DOT inspections 0 134 Next month Program Budget Objectives Month YTD Goal Log 100% of vehicle work orders into EPR Fireworks No Data No Data 100% EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS BRANCH Section Report by: Battalion Chief of Communications Budget Category Adj Appropriation YTD Expenditures % Used Goal Auxiliary S&W $1,853,786 $200,001 11% 29% 6223 OCE $69,294 No Data No Data 25% Equipment $0 No Data No Data N/A *sub-budget within auxiliary service budget Program Measures Admin (nonemergency) Total # of calls Avg duration % answered < 10 sec # of calls # of calls 2486 191 87% 2044 4530 Program Budget Objectives September YTD GOAL EMD Protocol Compliance 70%* or greater 39% 43% >70% 90% of 911 calls answered in <10 seconds 87% 87% 90% Average time to process 911 call <180 191s 186s <180 sec Time from Call to Dispatch <60 seconds @ 90% 133s 133s <60 sec *Compliance goal to increase 5% per year 2025 | SEPTEMBER PAGE 14 SNAPSHOTS AND STORIES FALL 2025 PROMOTIONAL CEREMONY On Sept. 24, a promotional ceremony was held in Hilo recognizing five personnel who have recently advanced in rank. The event marked a historic milestone for the department, celebrating the promotion of our first-ever female Battalion Chief of Operations and the first-ever Ocean Safety Chief in the department’s 137-year history. Family, friends, and colleagues gathered to honor the achievements and continued dedication of these individuals to the safety and service of our island community. Congratulations! 2025 | SEPTEMBER PAGE 15 EMERGENCY OPERATIONS HIGHLIGHTS Battalion 1, East Hawaiʻi • 9/5 Brush Fire: Ka’ala/District 17, Inc #21074, >600 acre brush fire of mixed, deep-seated fuels continues to burn within fire breaks at 90% containment. HFD remains on scene. Initial operations conducted by Co17, 8, T09, T03, C1, C2, Vol 8A, Vol 9B, Vol 9A, Vol 7B, T15, BT1. Assistance provided by DOFAW, NPS, National Guard, DPW, Salvation Army, and AT&T • 9/23 Structure Fire in Waipio Valley Dist.8. Inc #22553 640 Sq ft house burnt to the ground. Fire extinguished by Co 8 and Co 9 with water supply being drafted from a nearby river. Cause of the fire unknown. • 9/25 Brush Fire On Lehua St. Dist.8. Honoka’a. Inc# 22838, four acres burned. Fire extinguished by Co.8, BT9, Vol 8A, Vol 9B and C2. Cause of fire unknown. • 9/30 Overturned bus on Hwy 19 at the 25 mile marker in Dist.17. Inc# 23094 , 30 passengers involved. Mitigated by Co.17, E01, Co.2, M01, M03, M08, M09, AMR1, EMS1, and EMS 5 Battalion 2, West Hawaiʻi • 10/2 Structure Fire: Helani Church/District 12, Inc #23250. Historic place of worship found fully involved with partial collapse. No injuries, cause unknown. AVIATION OPERATIONS Chopper 1 – 34.2 flight hours Chopper 2 – 22.8 flight hours Total combined: 57 hours Fire – 51.1 flight hours were dedicated to fighting brush fire in the vicinity of: • Paauilo (Mauna Kea slopes) • Honokaa • Pohakuloa Training Area Rescue – 1 rescue at Black Sands by Chopper 1 Training – 0.3 flight hours for training of fire fighter personnel Other – The remaining time was dedicated to: • Repositioning Choppers for maintenance • Post-maintenance operational check flights DLNR shark survey at Magic Sands (Helicopter flight patterns on Mauna Kea Fire above Pa’auilo) 2025 | SEPTEMBER PAGE 16 NOTABLE RESCUE RESPONSES: • Two Co. 2 responses for reported swimmer in distress and one response from Co 2 for a boat in distress • One Co 7 response for reported boat in distress. Boat towed back to harbor via Rescue Boat 07 OCEAN SAFETY HIGHLIGHTS The HFD’s Rescue Watercraft Operator (RWCO) Training Program Solicitation Memo is currently in Final review and expected to be submitted to Ocean Safety Personnel by 10/17/2025 end of workday. On 10/03/2025, the application for the HFD RWC Program Policy has been submitted and is awaiting approval from the United States Lifeguard Association (USLA) recertification process. The expected date to commence with the RWCO training program is after December 1st coinciding with the onboarding of 10 WSO Is. VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION! 1-A (Pepeʻekeo) 6 alarms and assisted with Kaʻala on a Saturday and Sunday. Fit tested and received respirators. Brush truck back in service. Mahalo to Maluliku General Contracting for clearing area around the property. 5-C (Fern Forest) Has now become 19-B starting October 1. 5-D (Fern Acres) 5 fire calls, company training, driver training, and a couple new members. 7-B (Kalaoa) Responded to 3 incidents, performed vehicle maintenance, and trained on pumping operations and wildland training. 8-A (Paʻauilo) Ongoing brush fire. 9-B (Kanehoa) Responded to 7 fires, conducted 2 WUI trainings, and have 3 more personnel looking to be added to their roster. 2025 | SEPTEMBER PAGE 17 11-A (Nāʻālehu) 24+ years volunteer Ron Ebert is retiring. 16-B (Puʻuanahulu) 27 man hours of driver training, wet drills, and vehicle maintenance and pre-checks. 19-A (Volcano) Company 5-C has now become 19-B. 20-A (HOVE) Responded to multiple fires over the month, including structure fires, brush fires, and unauthorized burns. FIRE PREVENTION HIGHLIGHTS Community Outreach, Events & Media Engagement September 4: We participated in the Kapiolani Elementary School Health and Wellness Fair September 8: We ran a booth at the Four Seasons Health and Wellness Fair September 16: Captain Goo was a speaker at the National Association of State Foresters 2025 Annual Meeting. This was a presentation for our Drone program with the leadership and developers from NOVA software. Fire Investigations 9/11: District 15, Inc# 250021520, Residential Fire 9/19: District 19, Inc# 250021837, Residential Fire9/30: District 12, Inc# 250022865, Multifamily complex Fire 2025 | SEPTEMBER PAGE 18 UAS Program Dist.17 (09/05/2025-Present) Inc#250021074: HFD’s Matrice 30T was utilized for a 360 aerial view of the brushfire area. Infrared scans and searches were conducted around the perimeter of the findings. Incident maps and live footage were shared with the EOC. The Drone team was deployed multiple times throughout the month, as the incident went from a short to long duration incident. SAFETY PROGRAM COOP • Activation – Tsunami Warning on 7.29.30: After Action Review drafted; review ongoing with F2. • October 7, 2025 exercise postponed due to scheduling conflicts. New date/time TBD. • Established an Everbridge COOP group (Admin). • Updated Tsunami maps from Civil Defense uploaded to COOP folder in SharePoint. Procurement of NFPA Ground Ladder Testing Equipment/Supplies • Ongoing process; sole source request approved by Purchasing. B202 submitted to Fiscal. Maui FD Health & Safety Site Visit • Site visit conducted on September 19th. • Observed differences in Health & Safety functions, including NFPA 1582 compliant AME process integrated into their Respiratory Protection Program. • Visited multiple facilities, including MFD’s joint State Fire (ARFF) Training facility; exchanged ideas and networked on various safety challenges. Draft OSHA Two-In/Two-Out Policy • Under review by various Chiefs – comments due October 31st. Draft CODE-H Procedure (Abandoned/Vacant Building Program) • Still looking for a station/shift to trial/test the concept. AAR – Boiling Pots Drive Training • BC Lindsey finalized AAR with recommendations submitted to F1/F2. • Coordination with Training & National Fallen Firefighters Foundation • Seeking to host “Taking Care of Our Own” (LODD) training in the 1st quarter of 2026. • Severe Event Response Team Training • Attended at Honolulu Fire on September 3rd & 4th. 2025 | SEPTEMBER PAGE 19 • Draft procedure developed and sent to the Safety Committee for review. If approved SERT would replace AAR process. Respiratory Protection Program • Awaiting response from PSI (Oahu) to replace Kunkle valves on electric Mako unit. • US Forest Service updated guidance for respiratory use for wildland firefighters: Recommends voluntary use of N95 during non-strenuous activities or intermittently to mitigate respiratory hazards like particle exposure from smoke; first commitment to widespread provision of masks. • HIOSH Boiler & Elevator Inspector identified an intermittently malfunctioning on/off switch on the Bauer TCOM breathing air compressor at Station 10 (Pahoa); Notice of Violation issued with deadline for correction on 11/30/25; awaiting response from PSI to determine warranty status. Safety Concerns and Inspections • Awaiting results of requested mold testing at Stations #4 & #5. • Visited Station 19 (Volcano) on September 16th. • Investigated safety concern at Station #2: Aviation refuel trailer parked too close to hangar; trailer was temporarily relocated and in process of being repositioned appropriately. Incident/Accident Reports • Seven new Incident/Accident reports, one new Vehicle/Property Damage report, and two Toxic exposure reports received during September. • Joint Safety Committee • Meeting held on September 17th; agenda and previous minutes posted to SharePoint. CONFERENCES AND CONNECTIO N Chief Todd served as a guest speaker at the Hawaiʻi State Association of Counties (HSAC) Conference, hosted by Hawaii Island County Councilmembers at the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort Sept. 11–12. Chief Todd’s presentation focused on building a Fire-Adapted Hawaiʻi, highlighting collaborative efforts among counties, state agencies, and community partners to strengthen wildfire resilience across the islands. 2025 | SEPTEMBER PAGE 20 Chief Todd was invited as a guest speaker for the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s Kuleana and Community Talk Story series on Sept. 19. The discussion centered on our shared kuleana and the actionable steps we can take toward wildfire resilience and disaster preparedness. STAY CONNECTED! See what we’re up to on social media! Follow the Hawaiʻi Fire Department for the latest updates, photos, and behind-the-scenes looks at our work in the community. Check out our recent posts!