ROLE AND DUTIES

Mission Statement: The Hawaii County Fire Department has the responsibility of providing the highest level of service, above and beyond what people expect, in life preservation, incident stabilization, and property conservation.

The duties of the Fire Department are to provide fire safety mitigation activities through education of fire safety code enforcement; 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; and to accomplish our mission statement with relentless professionalism and fiscal responsibility.

The Fire Protection Division 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 Volunteer Training Division provides island-wide standardization of instruction for all Volunteer Fire Fighters. The training program meets the criteria of the Hawaii Insurance Bureau for insurance needs for the rural communities that these Volunteer Fire Fighters protect. There are 20 volunteer companies throughout the Island of Hawaii with approximately 250 volunteers.

Communications, Equipment Maintenance & Support Division

The Fire Communications Control Center receives E911 calls and dispatches emergency units and personnel.

The Equipment Maintenance Section maintains and repairs Fire Department vehicles.

The Support Section maintains stock control and inventory records for 1,256 pieces of major equipment; issues, inspects, replaces and/or repairs personal protective equipment; provides personnel working at major fire incidents with logistical support and arranges for heavy equipment to assist with fires.

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division provides 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.

The Fire Prevention Division 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, 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 Fiscal Division provides fiscal assistance tot he Fire Chief and the Deputy Fire Chief; plans, directs and coordinates the fiscal activities for the entire department through control of budget development, expenditures and review; manages the purchasing, accounts receivable, and payroll functions; prepares regular and special reports; acts as liaison with other departments and government private agencies on fiscal transactions; and evaluates all fiscal organization procedures.

The Personnel Division administers the day-to-day departmental personnel functions to enhance the accomplishment of the overall goals of the department. Personnel administration consists of classifying the positions within the department; creating detailed descriptions of the work to be performed by employees in each position, including promotional requirements; administering plans and benefits; ensuring that the department does not discriminate in hiring, assigning, disciplining, or promoting employees; maintaining a system for appraisals and providing counseling for workers’ compensation; and providing technical assistance to the various division heads on personnel matters directly affecting their division.

STAFF

Total Budgeted Positions: 331

Fire Protection Division

Training Division

Lloyd T. Narimatsu, Battalion Chief – East Hawaii

Steven T. Iwamoto, Battalion Chief – West Hawaii

Volunteer Training Division

(vacant)

Communications, Equipment Maintenance & Support Division

Thomas J. Bello, Battalion Chief

Emergency Medical Services Division

Paul P. Paiva, Battalion Chief

Fire Prevention Division

Richard H. Kihara, Fire Prevention Inspector III

Fiscal Division

Gerald H. Makino, Accountant IV

Personnel Division

Gail Y. Nakamura, Personnel Management Specialist II

BUDGET

Operating Budget – Fiscal Year 1998-99:

Emergency Medical Services: $ 7,659,019

Fire Protection Division

Completion of new Hawaiian Ocean View Estates (HOVE) Volunteer Fire Station.

Construction of Laupahoehoe Fire Station.

Computers for all fire stations.

Training Division

Classes and number of personnel attended:

Volunteer Training Division

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.

Kona Paradise Subdivision is now a Volunteer Fire Company 6B.

Fern Acres is now a Volunteer Fire Company 5D.

Four Seasons is now a Volunteer Fire Company 7D.

Emergency Medical Services Division

Secured funding for 24 hours of aeromedical services.

Purchased 2 new 1998 ambulances to upgrade the fleet of 20 ambulances presently in service.

Purchased 2 new defibrillators/pacemakers.

Received 10 automatic external defibrillators (AED’s).

Relocated one ambulance unit from Central Fire Station to Kawailani Fire Station to reduce response time to that area.

Scheduling and coordination of 9 MICT refresher courses, 9 EMT refresher courses, and 1 EMT class that certified 7 new EMT’s.

Coordinated Hepatitis B Vaccination Program for County employees; 330 vaccines given.

Responded to 11,341 emergency medical calls.

Developed EMS Policy and Procedures binder.

Received funding from State Department of Health to purchase computer server to network EMS station computers.

Fire Prevention Division

Activities:

Accomplishments:

Purchased two (2) Drager Miniwarn gas detectors. One will be issued t the Kona Division.

Participated in the Hawaii Association of County Building Officials (HACBO) conference.

Attended NFPA 921, Fire and Explosion Investigation, classes.

One inspector attended National Fire Academy (NFA) Vehicle Fire workshop.

Attended quarterly State Fire Council meetings.

Continued to provide Fire Safety classes to Fanny Mae recipient.

Continued Fire Prevention Week programs with Department of Education.

BOARDS/COMMISSIONS

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 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.

The Board members are: