Amid the recent wildland fires across the state this summer, this is an opportune time to review our County of Hawai`i’s backyard/open burning regulations.

This also an excellent opportunity to inform the community that consideration is being given to revise the current ordinance and possibly further restrict or limit outdoor burning practices and activities. The purpose is to preserve quality of life and safety for all residents and visitors.

Health and Safety Hazards from Outdoor Burning

In light of the continued growth of our communities and the filling out of our subdivisions, more and more people are directly affected by outdoor burning.

The impact of outdoor fires range from health issues associated with respiratory ailments to the potential threat to life and property in the event of a runaway wildland fire.

The effects of outdoor burning on health issues are further compounded by the continued volcanic eruption that produces a significant amount of Vog.

Air quality is a key factor – please kokua

In consideration of the safety and health concerns related to open burning as well as a desire to maintain and preserve the air quality we all appreciate, efforts are presently being focused on the revision and possible amendment of the current County ordinance.

However, until such time that changes are made to the regulations, the fire department would like to solicit the public’s assistance with assuring safe burning practices as well as compliance with the burning ordinance.

The current burning ordinance

Under the present County ordinance Section 26-17.1 regarding bonfires and outdoor rubbish fires, open burning is permissible providing certain conditions can be met. These conditions include:

(a) Except as provided by section 11.117, all bonfires, rubbish fires, and incinerator fires are prohibited when the State of Hawaii director of health declares a “no burn” day.

(b) Location Restricted. No person shall kindle or maintain any bonfire or rubbish fire or authorize any such fire to be kindled or maintained on any private land unless the fire is located more than 500 feet from any neighboring residence and (1) the location is more than 50 feet from any structure and adequate provision is made to prevent fire from spreading to within 50 feet of any structure, or (2) the fire is contained in an approved waste burner located safely more than 15 feet from any structure.

(c) Attendance of Open Fires. Bonfires and rubbish fires shall be constantly attended by a competent person until such fire is extinguished. This person shall have a garden hose connected to the water supply, or other fire-extinguishing equipment readily available for use.

(d) Fire Chief May Prohibit. The chief may prohibit any or all bonfires and outdoor rubbish fires when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous.

(e) Chief May Issue Permit. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the chief may issue a permit to kindle or maintain any bonfire or rubbish fire upon a determination by the chief or the chief’s authorized representative that such burning will not create an unreasonable hazard to public safety or health. In determining whether to approve an application for such a permit, the chief or the chief’s authorized representative shall consider the following factors:

(1) The weather and local conditions prevailing at the time the application is submitted;

(2) The proximity of any buildings, pasture, forest, or brush lands to the location of the fire and the hazards which may be posed to such property by the fire;

(3) The safeguards which the applicant can provide to control the fire or prevent its spread;

(4) Whether other reasonable alternatives to the burning of waste material at the location exist; and

(5) The proximity and availability of water and fire fighting equipment to the location of the fire.

Furthermore, open burning is also permitted for the following purposes under Section 26-17.3.

(a) The following types of open fires are not prohibited by Article 11, Division 1, of the Uniform Fire Code 1988:

(1) Fires for the cooking of food, unless prohibited by the chief when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fire hazardous.

(2) Fires for recreational, decorative, or ceremonial purposes as approved by the State of Hawaii director of health;

(3) Fires set by firefighters or other authorized personnel to abate a fire hazard providing the hazard is so declared by the fire department or the district forester having jurisdiction;

(4) Fires for the prevention or control of disease or pests as approved by the State of Hawaii director of health;

(5) Fires for the training of fire fighting personnel;

(6) Fires for the disposal of dangerous material where there is no alternate method of disposal and burning is approved in advance by the State of Hawaii director of health;

(7) Fires for residential bathing purposes;

(8) Fires for any agricultural operation authorized by an agricultural burning permit issued by the State of Hawaii director of health.

(b) Clearance by the State health department for and notification of all agricultural fires either by telephone or written notice shall be on file with the fire alarm bureau before these fires are permitted.

Please be considerate

The current burning ordinance sets out the law, but we would like to ask the community’s help in being considerate to neighbors when burning outdoors. Burning trash can be a nuisance but more importantly, it can cause breathing problems for children, the elderly and other members of our community.

Please take your trash to the transfer station, recycling station or compost heap instead of burning.

Anyone having questions regarding the county ordinance regarding bonfires and outdoor rubbish fires are encouraged to contact the Fire Department at 961-8297.

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COUNTY BULLETIN BOARD

Environmental Management Commission Meets July 27 in Waimea

DATE: Wednesday, July 27, 2005

TIME: 9:00 A.M. Public hearing on Solid Waste Division Rules

Commission Meeting to Follow

Visit Waimea Transfer Station, Redemption Center and Landfill following Commission Meeting

PLACE: Tutu’s House, 64-1032 Mamalahoa Hwy, #305, Kamuela, HI 96743.

1. Call to order & announcements

2. Approval of minutes – May 25, 2005

3. Approval of addendum and/or items supplemental agenda

4. Statements from the public

5. Reports/correspondence

Ÿ Solid Waste Division Chief's Report

Ÿ Wastewater Division Chief's Report

Ÿ Technical Services Section Chief’s Report

Ÿ Director's Report

6. Unfinished Business

Ÿ Status Report – New Commission Member for District 6

Ÿ 2005-2006 Department Budget Report

Ÿ Scheduling: County Site Visits by the Commission

Ÿ Discussion and decision making on ordinance to increase penalties for illegal dumping

7. New Business

Ÿ Non-point Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) presentation by Jeff Zimpfer

Ÿ Solid Waste Advisory Council

8. Future Agenda Items

Ÿ Election of Officers – September meeting

9. Meeting Announcements

Ÿ Wednesday, September 28, 2005, 9 a.m. Kona Mayor’s Office Conference Room, 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 103, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Ÿ Wednesday, November 23, 2005, 9 a.m. Hilo County Council Room, 25 Aupuni Street, Room 201, Hilo, HI 96720

10. Adjournment

If you require an accommodation or auxiliary aid and/or services to participate in this meeting (i.e. sign language interpreter, large print), please call 961-8083 ten days prior to the meeting date. Comments may be sent to Department of Environmental Management, 25 Aupuni Street, Room 210, Hilo, HI 96720 or emailed to cohdem@co.hawaii.hi.us .

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County Job Fair in Honoka’a July 28

You are cordially invited to the latest County Job Fair. Learn about the many job openings with the County of Hawai`i Come to get applications and learn test-taking tips.

Where: Honoka`a Sports Complex Gym

When: July 28, 2005 (Thursday) 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

For further information, contact the Department of Civil Service at 961-8361.

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New Hawai`i County Code Available in Print and Online

The Office of the County Council-Clerk would like to inform the public that it has released the new, republished Hawai‘i County Code on the County of Hawai‘i’s website at http://www.co.hawaii.hi.us/countycode/main.html .or http://co.hawaii.hi.us/countycode/main.html

The Hawai‘i County Code, the laws of the County, contains ordinances enacted through June 30, 2005.

Printed copies of the Code will be available for purchase for $200 on August 1, 2005. A CD is included with the purchased copies of the printed Code, or may be purchased separately for $20 by calling the Clerk’s Office at (808) 961-8255.

Because the Code is constantly amended, the website will be brought up to date as ordinances are adopted. However, the official version will be the printed copy, which will be supplemented every six months.

The County Council recently transferred responsibilities for supplementing and reprinting the Code from the Office of the Corporation Counsel to the Office of the Council-Clerk. The Code and annual supplements were previously prepared by privately-contracted companies.

For further information, please contact the Clerk’s Office at 961-8255.

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Caring for Family, Caring for Yourself - A Caregiver’s Conference Aug 11

If you are helping someone with grocery shopping, paying bills, providing transportation to doctor’s visits, or cooking meals, you already are a caregiver. Time spent caregiving can range from less than an hour or two a week to round-the-clock care.

With careful planning, good self-care and knowledge of available resources, you can better prepare yourself to help your loved one. It’s important to realize that as a caregiver, you are not alone.

AARP, HMSA, Alu Like, Inc. and the Hawaii County Office of Aging have joined together to support the family caregivers on the Big Island.

A caregiver’s conference is scheduled at the Hawaii Naniloa Resort on Thursday, August 11 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cost is $15 for unpaid family caregivers and $20 for all others. This fee includes refreshments, lunch, workshops and resource exhibits.

A Resource Fair will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Local service agencies and organizations will provide information and products available with helpful tips and tools to assist the caregiver at home.

Local pharmacists will offer private consultations from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. to assess and evaluate all over-the-counter and prescription drugs a person is taking to avoid the danger of potential adverse reactions.

The morning keynote will feature Lee White’s Keeping Things Together Without Falling Apart – A Caregiver’s Story, about a family’s heartwarming and personal experiences of caring for a loved one.

Dr. Kalani Brady, who is featured on a weekly KHON (Channel 2) morning news segment, will present “Be an Empowered Caregiver! A Doctor’s View on How Caregivers can be Advocates for Themselves and Their Families” in the afternoon.

Twelve other sessions focusing on a wide variety of caregiver topics are offered during the day.

A special Alzheimer’s course will be available for caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients. Another session addresses questions and concerns of grandparents raising grandchildren.

Other sessions include topics such as mental health, home safety, Medicaid vs. Medicare, financial preparedness and tax information and many others.

Caregivers may choose three sessions that will be most helpful in their situation.

Scholarships are available for Native Hawaiians or unpaid family caregivers of Native Hawaiians through Alu Like, Inc. Respite care for older adults may also be available so caregivers can attend this conference.

Registration deadline is July 27 and you must be registered to attend. This conference was at maximum capacity last year, so attendance is on a first come, first served basis.

For conference brochure, registration and scholarship forms and for more information, call the Hawaii County Office of Aging at 961-8600 (Hilo) or 327-3597 (Kona).

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Hurricane Preparedness Guide Now Posted on County Website

With the Pacific hurricane season now upon us, it is very important for all of our Hawai`i residents to be familiar with hurricane preparedness measures.

The County of Hawai`i’s Civil Defense Agency reminds the community that all areas of our Island of Hawai`i can be prone to hurricane hazards.

Residents must be aware that all parts of Hawai`i Island could be exposed to hurricane hazards, despite a common belief that our mountains of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa shield parts of the island from hurricane winds.

We hope our residents will take the time to familiarize themselves with hurricane preparedness measures by reading the County of Hawai`i’s Hurricane Preparedness Guide.

The Hurricane Preparedness Guide is now available on the County’s website . To access the Hurricane Preparedness Guide, click on http://co.hawaii.hi.us/cd/hpg/main.html . There is also a link to the Civil Defense page http://co.hawaii.hi.us/directory/dir_defense.htm .

If you’d like a hard copy of the Hurricane Preparedness Guide, copies will be available from the Civil Defense Agency after July 1.

For further information, contact the Civil Defense Agency at 961-8229.

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HI 5¢ Redemption Centers – Locations, Hours of Operation

In case you’re wondering, all of the County of Hawai`i’s eight beverage container redemption sites remain open as usual. The County of Hawai`i recycling staff continues to work with the State Department of Health to make improvements to the Bottle Bill redemption program.

Qualifying Beverage Containers

What’s IN: Eligible (redeemable) beverage containers include:

Soft drinks, soda, water, juice, tea and coffee drinks, and certain alcoholic drinks (beer, malt beverages, wine coolers, mixed spirits) in metal, glass, or plastic, 64 oz. or less.

What’s OUT: Ineligible (unredeemable) containers include:

Milk, wine, and hard liquor containers.

Reminder: ONLY eligible labeled containers can be redeemed

Qualified beverage containers may be redeemed for cash at the following locations:

** Transfer Station centers closed daily from 1-2pm for lunch.**

CURRENTLY OPEN

DAYS/HOURS OF OPERATION

OPERATOR

Hilo, 30 Maka`ala Street

(Old industrial area)

Mon thru Fri: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Sat & Sun: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Atlas Recycling

Hilo Transfer Station**

(Closed Tuesdays)

M, W, TH, F: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm

Sat & Sun: 6:30 am - 5:00 pm

ARC of Hilo

Kailua-Kona, Pawai Place

(Old industrial area)

Mon thru Fri: 7:00 am - 4:00 pm

Sat 8:00 am-3:00 pm Sun closed

Atlas Recycling

Kea`au Transfer Station**

(Closed Tuesdays)

M, W, TH, F: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm

Sat & Sun: 7:30 am - 6:00 pm