VIII. HAWAII COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT
ROLE AND DUTIES
The Hawaii County Fire Department has the responsibility
of protecting life and property from fire and multifarious emergencies.
In answer to this challenge, the Fire Department's multi-emergency
work force manages a variety of crises throughout the Island of
Hawaii and its adjacent shores. Emergency situations routinely
managed includes: (1) fire suppression (structural, vehicular,
brush, crops, etc.); (2) medical emergencies (pre-hospital for
traumatic or natural illness); (3) land and sea rescues or searches
involving water sports or fishing, overdue hikers, hunters, or
fishermen, etc.; (4) vehicular or other extrications; (5) hazardous
materials mitigation of petroleum or chemical product leak(s),
ruptures, or spills.
The on-going duties of the Fire Department are:
1. Provide fire safety mitigation activities through
education of fire safety code enforcement.
2. Provide an adequate response to any emergency
with proper equipment and trained personnel in a timely manner
that minimizes personal injury or property loss and loss of life.
3. Accomplish assigned missions with relentless professionalism
and fiscal responsibility.
STAFF
Total Employees
Budgeted Positions: 328
Administration: 2
Chief Officers: 7
Uniformed: 294
Civilian: 25
Fire Protection - Assistant Chiefs
Garfield H. Arakaki "A" Shift
(Vacant) "B" Shift
Harry Y. Onouye "C" Shift
Training
Thomas J. Bello, Battalion Chief East Hawaii
Gilbert Tavares, Battalion Chief West Hawaii
Volunteer Training
Lloyd T. Narimatsu, Battalion Chief
Communications & Logistics
Steven T. Iwamoto, Battalion Chief
Emergency Medical Services
Paul P. Paiva, Fire Captain
Fire Prevention
Richard H. Kihara, Fire Prevention Inspector III
Fiscal
Gerald H. Makino, Accountant IV
Personnel
Gail Y. Nakamura, Personnel Management Specialist
II
Fire Appeals Board
The Fire Appeals Board was established to review
appeals from the decision of the Fire Chief in the administration
of the Fire Code involving any denial of the use of new or alternate
materials, types of construction, equipment, devices or appliances,
or any petition for varying the application of the Fire Code.
Such appeals may be submitted to the Board for hearing and determination.
Current members are:
1. Joseph A. Gomes
2. Hajime Uyeki
3. Herbert T. Hayama
4. Ernest P. Correia
5. James I. Ishii
Activities
No appeals were filed with the Fire Appeals Board
during the fiscal year.
TRAINING/SAFETY DIVISION
The primary goal of this division is to provide support
training to maintain a high level of line company effectiveness
and to evaluate and improve company readiness; realizing this
goal with the prevention and reduction of accidents, injuries
and occupational illnesses.
The objective of the division is to provide standardized
and comprehensive training for all fire fighters; follow nationally
accepted performance standards for fire fighters, rescue specialists,
fire equipment operators, company officers and fire fighter recruits.
Accomplishments FY 95-96:
ˆ 129 fire fighters received training and refresher
in hazardous material response.
ˆ 39 fire fighters received Incident Safety
Officer (ISO) training as related to Incident Command System.
ˆ 212 fire fighters attended Bloodborne Pathogen
Workshops.
ˆ 19 fire fighter recruits completed basic fire
fighting and EMT training.
ˆ Submitted and awarded contract for a new HAZMAT
vehicle.
FY 96-97 Training Objectives:
ˆ Provide HAZMAT and bloodborne pathogen training
and refresher classes as required by HIOSH.
ˆ Finalize Driver Training and Certification
Program.
ˆ Schedule and conduct initial driver certification
and evaluation for all line company personnel.
ˆ Plan for a new safety process that will set
annual reports of accidents and injuries to a tolerance level
of ZERO.
ˆ New HAZMAT vehicle to be delivered in April,
1997.
ˆ Develop protocol for wildland fire fighting.
ˆ Set up a medical surveillance program for
the HAZMAT Team.
VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE DIVISION
The Department continued its efforts to provide rural
communities with a viable fire fighting force comprised of volunteers
from the respective districts. The volunteers also contribute
to reduced fire insurance rate classification.
To accomplish this, the department provides necessary
equipment and training which allows these volunteer units to function
independently as first responders to fire emergencies, at times
before the arrival of the nearest responding 24-hour fire crews.
Volunteers also serve as a valuable reserve force that are mobilized
for use at large-scale brush fires or natural disasters.
Areas of responsibility within the Volunteer Fire
Services:
1. Volunteer training
2. Volunteer daily operations
3. Public Relations/Education
4. Driver Training & Improvement Program
5. Safety Policies
6. First Aid and CPR Training
7. Wildland Fire Training
8. PUC Physical Examinations
9. Grant Writing
10. Vehicle Maintenance
11. Coordinate with other agencies on equipment procurement
12. Hazardous Material Training
Activities/Accomplishments
ˆ Continued training sessions for fire fighting
operations and fire apparatus proficiency.
ˆ Continued to provide standardized and comprehensive
company training for all personnel (NFPA 1001 Fire Fighter Standards).
ˆ Two more Volunteer Chiefs will be sent to
the National Fire Academy in Maryland - Volunteer Incentive Program
(VIP) for Fire Command Operations Training.
ˆ Volunteer Fire Companies are now equipped
with pagers for immediate call-out and with a pak-radio for two-way
emergency communications.
Future Projects
ˆ A training center to be built at an area in
Hilo where all standardized fire training sessions can be held.
ˆ Increase training staff to meet increasing
training needs; to develop training programs to meet current and
new fire technologies; develop and conduct fire safety programs
for schools and general public.
ˆ Two additional forestry type fire trucks are
being sent from the National Forestry Service - Los Angeles, California.
Accomplishments
ˆ Received two forestry type fire trucks from
the National Forestry Service - Los Angeles, California.
ˆ CPR Instructors were certified from each Volunteer Company for in-house training/certifications.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE DIVISION
The Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Division's major
function is to provide the community and its visitors the highest
level of service, above and beyond what people expect in pre-hospital
emergency care while abiding by the contract between the State
Emergency Medical Services System Branch and the Hawaii County
Fire Department.
Activities/Accomplishments
ˆ The scheduling and coordination of nine (9)
MICT Refresher Courses, nine (9) EMT Refresher Courses, one (1)
First Responder Class, one (1) EMT Class and one (1) MICT Class.
ˆ The recertification of 58 MICTs, 123 EMTs
and 17 EMTs and 6 MICTs receiving their initial certification.
ˆ The initiation of a Quality Improvement (QI)
Program to continuously improve the quality of pre-hospital medical
care and ambulance service.
ˆ A dedicated functional Bloodborne Pathogen
Program, and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Program.
ˆ Establishment of a Hepatitis B vaccination
program for County employees.
ˆ Continued funding for twelve (12) hours of
Aeromedical Services.
ˆ The purchasing of two 1995 ambulances to upgrade
the present fleet of 20 ambulances now in service.
ˆ Started EMS reference library at EMS stations.
Future Projects
ˆ Funding for 24 hours of Aeromedical Services.
ˆ Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) on
every fire engine and rescue vehicle.
ˆ Implementing the first phase of the EMS career
ladder.
ˆ The addition of Advanced Life Support (ALS)
Units at Keauhou, Waikoloa and Pahala.
ˆ The addition of ten (10) newly certified MICTs.
ˆ The purchasing of four (4) new ambulances.
FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION
The Fire Prevention Bureau manages life and fire
safety requirements affecting the County of Hawaii. It enforces
all fire codes and regulations; reviews building plans; makes
inspections of various occupancies, including places of assembly,
educational and health care facilities, detention occupancies
such as hotels, apartments, dormitories, lodging or rooming houses,
and mercantile, business, industrial and storage facilities; investigates
fires and makes compilations as to cause, origin and circumstances
for public record; summons and compels the attendance of witnesses
and produces evidence regarding subpoenas and litigation matters;
responsible for the county-wide medicare/medicaid inspection and
safety of facilities; administers and collects permit fees as
required under the Hawaii County Fire Code.
The goal of this program is synonymous with its name,
"fire prevention." Through coordinated fire mitigation
activities such as public fire prevention educational programs,
fire hazard abatement, code enforcement relative to life, safety
and building construction peculiarity, HFD's Fire Prevention Division
strives to prevent the tragic loss of life and property.
Quantification of fire prevention programs is very
difficult, especially in the absence of dramatic fires; however,
the renowned adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound
of cure cannot be over-emphasized.
Activities/Accomplishments
1995 1996
ˆ Occupancy Inspections 1,802 1,214
ˆ Fire Detection &
Extinguishing System 5,032 3,698
ˆ Fire Safety Education 15 9
(Training Div.)
ˆ Building Plans Review 1,308 1,084
ˆ Fire Investigation 36 24
ˆ Meeting & Conferences 325 207
ˆ In-Service Training & Seminars 30 16
Breakdown of inspection per individual.
1996 P-1 P-2 I-1 I-2 I-3
Occupancy Inspections 109 131 361 407 232
Fire Detection &
Extinguishing System 206 293 1,441 1,245 513
Building Plans Review 520 395 82 63 24
Fire Investigation 6 14 3 5 6
Meeting & Conferences 131 43 26 30 10
In-Service Training & Seminars 7 1 2 3 3
Future Projects
ˆ Adopt 1994 Uniform Fire Code with Amendments.
ˆ Computer for Prevention Bureau.
ˆ Fill two (2) positions for Fire Inspector
I.
ˆ Fill Prevention II position in West Hawaii.
ˆ Provide in-service training for Inspectors
and Fire Fighters.
COMMUNICATIONS & LOGISTICS
Fire and EMS Dispatching
Activities/Accomplishments
ˆ Complete training of two (2) new fire dispatchers,
filling all authorized positions. During this time, one of the
newly trained dispatchers left for another County positions. Hired
and in the process of training one (1) new fire dispatcher, filling
all authorized positions.
ˆ Work on providing for E911 connections at
Civil Defense; enabling fire dispatch to be moved and operate
island-wide with one frequency in emergencies near completion.
ˆ During this fiscal year, fire dispatch answered
12,407 emergencies.
ˆ Working on procedures for maintaining certification
for Emergency Medical Dispatching (EMD) for all dispatchers.
ˆ Working with police and data processing on
computer and dispatch system.
ˆ Working on maintaining streets data base.
ˆ Provided hazardous material training to all
dispatchers.
Future Projects
ˆ Provide for three (3) more positions; these
positions will act as working shift supervisors.
ˆ Provide third radio console; this station
will be activated when dispatching under heavy load and back-up
for existing radios.
ˆ Provide for testing, procedures, and training
on using the Civil Defense alternate fire dispatch site. Provide
for two (2) more fire radio frequencies, recording equipment,
and public safety answering point (PSAP) at this site.
ˆ Anticipate transition to 800 mega hertz radio
frequencies.
ˆ Provide new phone system to fire dispatch;
present system obsolete.
Fire Department Maintenance Shop
Activities/Accomplishments
ˆ Addressed OSHA concerns to the shop.
ˆ Our maintenance shop addressed 462 normal
repairs to our fleet of about 125 vehicles island-wide.
ˆ Our maintenance shop performed two (2) major
repairs, including assembling a new rescue vehicle.
ˆ Planning stage for shop extension is near
completion.
ˆ Acquisition of two (2) full size fire trucks
and a mini-fire truck is near completion.
Future Projects
ˆ Provide for additional personnel for authorized
open position.
ˆ Provide for two (2) new mechanic positions.
ˆ Provide vehicle hoists for working on repairs
of vehicles.
ˆ Provide for four (4) full-size fire trucks.
Fire Department Warehouse
Activities/Accomplishments
ˆ Addressed OSHA concerns to the warehouse.
ˆ Initiated computerization of the inventory
and equipment repairs records.
ˆ Maintained safety equipment data base.
ˆ Initiated computer responsibilities to warehouse
supervisor.
ˆ Worked with Finance Department to facilitate
acquisitions.
ˆ Worked on standardizing equipment and supplies.
ˆ Working on State Fire Fighters Safety Guide
Program (FFSG).
Future Projects
ˆ Provide for new warehouse clerk position.
ˆ Provide for repair and painting to the warehouse
building.
ˆ Provide bar codes and readers to facilitate
inventory process.
FIRE PROTECTION DIVISION
Goals/Objectives for FY 96-97
ˆ To protect and ensure safety of life, property,
the environment and continue to provide training to employees
so they may provide more services to the community.
Examples: HAZMAT, Incident Command Safety, reduce
work injuries, computer use training.
ˆ Continue to improve the quality and accuracy
of the National Fire Reporting System (NFIRS) reports to provide
faster, accurate reports. Work with the Honolulu Fire Department
in sharing computer data.
ˆ Work with fire dispatchers to improve data
collection and reports through improved computer programs.
ˆ Work with fire dispatchers to improve response
information through improved mapping and data collection on the
computer.
ˆ Continue to work with volunteer fire companies
to improve fire protection to rural area communities.
ˆ Continue to reduce sick leave abuse through
monitoring and employee counseling.
ˆ Continue to manage manpower staffing during
staffing shortages.
ˆ Continue safety consciousness: Safety Seminars,
training on safety and accident prevention.
Accomplishments FY 95-96
ˆ Maintained adequate staffing during extreme
staffing shortages with very little recall.
During the recent year, there has been an acceleration
in training for HAZMAT which has taxed our already short staff.
In spite of this, we have allowd personnel to attend the training
and continued providing necessary emergency response.
ˆ During the last year, there was increased
demand for alarm response data. Assistant Fire Chief Arakaki worked
on improving data tracking. Now the Central Captain can automatically
get a list of missing incidents along with the time, location
and responsible company and shift through the computer system.
Captain Wery is monitoring this list and tracking delinquent reports.
ˆ Through the efforts of Trish McCumber, UH
graduate student, and Central personnel, all Tier II reports have
been entered into the Cameo Database on the Dispatch computer.
This is an accomplishment since the computer in the Captain's
office and Assistant Chief's office are used for NFIRS and regular
office work, too. Central personnel spent much time drawing site
plot plans into the Cameo database. Since this information is
on a network, the data can be accessed from the computers in the
dispatch, Captain and Assistant Chief's offices.
ˆ Provided in-service officer training to Fire
Equipment Operators and Captains. This program has improved the
understanding and cooperation of company officers. There is now
more support from these company officers in record keeping and
management of staffing.
The overall attendance and performance of ALL personnel
can be attributed to high morals and pride. Fire administration
will continue to provide a safe and productive work environment
through strict and fair management of our personnel.
ˆ Through the Community Development Block Grant
Program, $821,000 were approved for fire apparatus, equipment
and facilities.
Hawaiian Paradise Park $308,000 Fire Engine
Pepeekeo 308,000 Fire Engine
HOVE 125,000 Mini-pumper
Pepeekeo 60,000 Volunteer fire
station
Central Fire Station 20,000 Retrofit fire
station
BUDGET
Operating Budget - Fiscal Year 1995-96
Fire Protection $13,617,759
Fire Prevention 267,232
Equipment Maintenance 357,093
Training 404,004
Basic EMT 518,200
Helicopter Services 827,954
$15,992,242
Operating Budget - Fiscal Year 1995-96 - By Appropriation
Classification
Salaries & Wages $12,981,987
OCE 1,314,101
Purchase of Equipment 350,000
Basic EMT 518,200
Helicopter 827,954
$15,992,242
Emergency Medical Services $ 7,214,594