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VIII. HAWAII COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT

Fire Chief Nelson Tsuji started his career with the Hawaii County Fire Department in 1967.  During his 26 years in the fire service, he rose through the ranks, becoming a Fire Equipment Operator in 1976, and in 1979, became a Captain and station commander at Waimea Fire Station.  He obtained a Associate of Arts Degree in Fire Science from Hawaii Community College in 1976.  From 1984 to 1986, he was a Fire Science instructor at the Hawaii Community College.  He has been active in community affairs, and in 1985, co-founded the A Dream Come True organization.  In 1987, he was selected by the Aloha Exchange Club as their first Fireman of the Year.  In 1988, he was recognized by the County Council, State Representatives and State Senators for his community involvement and participation.   As present administrator, he has instituted innovative ideas to provide the highest level of services in life preservation, incident stabilization, and property conservation.

In October, 1970, Deputy Fire Chief Edward Bumatay joined the Hawaii Fire Department and was one of the first graduates of the Mobile Intensive Care Technician (MICT) Program. He also holds an Associate of Arts Degree in Fire Science from the Hawaii Community College.  He cam up through the ranks, and in 1989, he was appointed Deputy Fire Chief during the administratio0n of Mayor Bernard Akana.  After the termination of his appointment , he returned to his position as Fire Captain at Waiakea Fire Station and served in that capacity until his current appointment as Deputy Fire Chief effective July 16, 1993.

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 minimize personal injury or property loss and loss of life.

3. Accomplish our mission statement with relentless professionalism and fiscal responsibility.

STAFF

Total Employees

Fire Protection - Assistant Chiefs

Training

Thomas J. Bello, Battalion Chief East Hawaii

(Vacant) Battalion Chief West Hawaii

Volunteer Training

Lloyd T. Narimatsu, Battalion Chief

Communications & Logistics

Steven T. Iwamoto, Battalion Chief

Emergency Medical Services

Paul P. Paiva, Battalion Chief

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. Herbert T. Hayama

2. Ernest P. Correia

3. James I. Ishii

4. Joseph A. Gomes

5. Gary K. Yoshimura

Activities

No appeals were filed with the Fire Appeals Board during the fiscal year.

TRAINING/SAFETY DIVISION

The Training/Safety Division serves to provide training resources; to assist company officers and their members in improving company operations toward maintaining high levels of proficiency, efficiency and readiness; and to assert upon all members the reduction and prevention of accidents, injuries and occupational illnesses.

The objective of the division is to establish standardized-comprehensive training procedures, following nationally accepted performance standards for company officers, fire equipment operators, fire fighters, fire rescue specialists, and fire fighter recruits.

The mission of the Training/Safety Division is to "maintain and provide quality training and service, with safety for its fire fighters being of highest priority."

Accomplishments FY 1997-98:

Training highlights:

• 246 received refresher training on Bloodborne Pathogen/TB Prevention.

• 80 attended Confined Space Awareness training.

• 25 were recertified to respond to H2S emergencies at PGV.

• 30 trained for EMS Incident Command System operations.

• 73 received Incident Command System training for hazardous materials.

• 88 received training in Basic Computering and Windows 95 OS.

• 361 HAZWOPER refreshed.

• 239 viewed Recognizing Drug Abuse Video for Supervisors.

• 194 attended Violence in the Workplace workshops.

• 52 trained in ICS Site Safety Officer.

FY 1998-99 Training Objectives:

• Accomplish retraining in all areas as required by OSHA.

• Conduct basic fire fighting classes of new fire fighters.

• Search for real estate for proposed fire training center.

VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE DIVISION

The Department continued its efforts to provide rural communities with a viable fire fighting force in support of the career fire service which is 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 before the arrival of the nearest responding 24-hour fire crews. Volunteers also serve as a valuable reserve force that can be 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. 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

• Continued training sessions for fire fighting operations and fire apparatus proficiency.

• Continued to provide standardized and comprehensive company training for all personnel (NFPA 1001 Fire Fighter Standards).

• Volunteer Fire Companies are now equipped with pagers for immediate call-out and with a pak-radio for two-way emergency communications.

Future Projects

• A training center to be built at an area in Hilo where all standardized fire training sessions can be held.

• 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.

• To secure additional forestry type fire trucks from the National Forestry Service - Los Angeles, California.

Accomplishments

• Kona Paradise Subdivision is now going through fire brigade training in anticipation of becoming a volunteer fire company.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE DIVISION

Vision Statement

The EMS Division of the Hawaii County Fire Department is a respected, viable, proactive member-driven organization capable of meeting the challenges facing the EMS community in the next century consistent with our mission.

Mission Statement

To provide the community and its visitors with quality pre-hospital emergency care pursuant to contractual arrangements with the State Department of Health and clinical standards approved by the State’s EMS Medical Director.

Activities/Accomplishments

• Scheduling and coordination of 9 MICT Refresher Courses, 9 EMT Refresher Courses, and one MICT Class.

• Recertification of 60 MICT’s, 132 EMT’s, and 7 MICT’s receiving their initial certification.

• Completion of a Quality Improvement (QI) Program approved by the State Department of Health.

• Revised Blood Borne Pathogen Program, and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Program.

• Hepatitis B vaccination program for County employees; 550 vaccines given.

• Continued funding for twelve (12) hours of aeromedical services.

• Two new 1997 ambulances placed into service to upgrade the present fleet of 20 ambulances now in service.

• Responded to 11,268 emergency medical calls.

• Revised Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with National Park Service.

• Assisted National Fish and Wildlife Service with their emergency response plan.

• Upgraded portable radios.

• Purchased 2 new EKG units.

Future Projects

• Funding for 24 hours of aeromedical services.

• Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) on every new fire engine and rescue vehicle.

• Addition of Advanced Life Support (ALS) units at Keauhou, Waikoloa, and Pahala.

• Addition of two new ambulances.

• Addition of eight newly certified MICT's.

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 ton of cure cannot be over-emphasized.

Activities/Accomplishments

Inspections per Inspector:

	Prev. 1	Insp. 2	Insp. 3
Occupancy Inspections	274	548	474
Fire Detection &	550	1,862	1,519
Extinguishing System
Fire Safety Training	5	1	1
Building Plans Review	450	434	148
Fire Investigation	25	12	40
Meetings & Conferences	102	45	54
In-Service Training & Seminars	12	2
Complaints	38	21	6

Prevention 2 and Inspector 1 on industrial leave. Prevention 2 on leave from 6/97 and Inspector 1 from 2/97.

Future Projects

• Complete 1994 Fire Code.

• Fill vacant positions (3).

• Computer training for Fire Prevention Bureau.

• Purchase gas detectors for East and West Hawaii (AIMS 4 Gas Monitor).

• Order new pagers and replace old pagers (no parts available according to repair company).

COMMUNICATIONS & LOGISTICS

Fire and EMS Dispatching

Activities/Accomplishments

• Work on providing for 911 connections at Civil Defense, enabling fire dispatch to be moved and operate island-wide with one frequency in emergencies completed.

• During this fiscal year, fire dispatch answered 12,541 emergencies.

• Continuing to Work on procedures for maintaining certification for Emergency Medical Dispatching (EMD) for all dispatchers.

• Continuing to Work with Police and Data Processing on computer and dispatch system.

• Continuing to Work on maintaining streets data base.

Future Projects

• In process of hiring three new dispatchers.

• Provide third radio console; this station will be activated when dispatching under heavy load and back-up for existing radios.

• 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.

• Anticipate transition to 800 mega hertz radio frequencies.

• Provide new phone system to fire dispatch; present system obsolete.

Fire Department Maintenance Shop

Activities/Accomplishments

• Our Maintenance Shop addressed 283 normal repairs to our fleet of about 125 vehicles island-wide.

• Our Maintenance Shop performed three (3) major repairs.

• Construction of Shop extension is on hold.

• Acquired four (4) full-size fire trucks.

Future Projects

• In process of hiring personnel to fill vacant positions.

• Provide for two (2) new mechanic positions.

• Vehicle hoists for working on repairs of vehicles on hold until Shop extension completed.

Fire Department Warehouse

Activities/Accomplishments

• Working on computerization of the inventory and equipment repair records.

• Maintained safety equipment data base.

• Initiated computer responsibilities to warehouse supervisor.

• Worked with Finance Department to facilitate acquisitions.

• Worked on standardizing equipment and supplies.

• Working on State Fire Fighters Safety Guide (FFSG) Program.

Future Projects

• Provide for new warehouse clerk position.

• Provide bar codes and readers to facilitate inventory process.

• Have completed acquiring stand-alone personal computers. Working on networking.

FIRE PROTECTION DIVISION

Goals/Objectives for FY 98-99

• 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.

• Continue to improve the quality and accuracy of the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) reports to provide faster, accurate reports. Work with the Honolulu Fire Department in sharing computer data.

• Continue to reduce sick leave abuse through monitoring and employee counseling.

• Continue to manage manpower staffing during staffing shortages.

• Continue safety-consciousness: Safety seminars, training on safety and accident prevention.

• Have all primary and secondary hazmat station personnel trained to Hazmat Specialist level.

• Hazmat vehicle for South Kohala Station.

• Computers for all stations.

• 24-hour medevac service for the Big Island.

Accomplishments FY 97-98

• Received two more ½-ton 4WD pickups with pump and equipment from the National Forestry Service.

• Milolii Volunteer Company 6A was qualified and certified as a member of the Hawaii County Fire Department.

• Four Seasons Resort personnel were qualified and certified as volunteer members of Kona Village 7A.

• CDBG approvals for Station 17, Laupahoehoe.

• CDBG approvals for Station 11B, HOVE.

• CDBG approvals for Station 11, Pahala’s apparatus garage building.

• CDBG approvals for Station 11A’s (Naalehu’s) preliminary plan process prior to construction approvals.

• Construction of the North Kohala Coast Volunteer Fire Station with all private funds.

BUDGET

Operating Budget - Fiscal Year 1997-98

Operating Budget - Fiscal Year 1997-98 - By Appropriation Classification

Response by Census Tract               July 1, 1997 - June 30 1998

EMS Response Summary           July 1, 1997 - June 30 1998

Station		TOTAL
S01	Central	1560
S07	Kailua	1277
S03	Kawailani	872
S10	Pahoa	742
S05	Keaau	733
S02	Waiakea	596
S04	Kaumana	459
S14	So Kohala	453
S06	Captain Cook	395
S12	Keahou	386
S08	Honokaa	378
S09	Waimea	357
S11	Kau	342
S18	Paradise Park	299
S15	No Kohala	212
S16	Waikoloa	149
S17	Laupahoehoe	78
	***TOTALS***	9,288

Type of Situation Found   -    Detail List         July 1, 1997 - June 30 1998

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