HAWAII STATE FIRE COUNCIL (SFC)
REPORT FY 2014-15
SFC is administratively attached to the State of Hawaii (State), Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and comprised of four county Fire Chiefs. Its primary mission is to develop a comprehensive fire service emergency management network for the protection of life, property, and environment throughout the State. SFC is responsible for adopting the State Fire Code, applying and administering federal fire-related grants, and administering a Reduced Ignition Propensity Cigarette Program. SFC may advise and assist the county fire departments where appropriate and prescribe standard procedures and forms related to inspections, investigations, and reporting of fires. The Council also advises the Governor and legislature on issues relating to fire prevention and protection, life safety, and any other function or activity for which the various county fire departments are responsible.
The State Fire Code became effective on August 15, 2014. The Council uses the National Fire Protection Association 1 Fire Code, 2012 Edition as amended. The State Fire Code, in union with the county fire codes, comprehensively addresses minimum requirements for the protection of life and property to mitigate and prevent the disastrous effects of fire, explosion, and hazardous materials incidents.
SFC has been a voting member of the State Building Code Council (SBCC) since its inception in 2007. The SBCC is comprised of eleven voluntary stakeholders from county, state, and private industry, who facilitate the review and adoption of a comprehensive set of national, model building codes for Hawaii. The SBCC Chair is SFC Administrator, Assistant Chief Socrates Bratakos. Without administrative staff or funding since its origin, the SBCC has struggled to adopt the most current editions of building, residential, electrical, energy conservation, and plumbing codes.
SFC supported and submitted testimony during the 2015 Legislative Session on bills related to cancer presumption for fire fighters; repealing the statute that prohibits counties requiring residential fire sprinklers in new one- and two-family dwellings; fireworks housekeeping; increasing display permit fees; and prohibiting the statewide use of consumer fireworks on the three designated holidays.
From August 2014 to June 2015, SFC coordinated the delivery of nine 2-day National Fire Academy classes for county fire departments.
On November 10, 2014, SFC representatives shared a booth at the Pacific Trades
Expo with the International Code Council’s (ICC) Western Regional Representative to promote SFC’s licensing of individuals who conduct maintenance testing of fire protection systems and appliances. On March 11, 2015, the proposed administrative rules regarding the licensing of individuals to conduct maintenance tests of fire protection systems and appliances were placed on the SFC website, and various industry individuals were solicited to provide comments. Fifteen responses were received, which were compiled and edited. The SFC staff continues to clarify certification-testing criteria with the ICC and the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies.
On September 5, 2014, SFC voted to support the Honolulu Fire Department as the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress certifying agency for the State.
SFC coordinated and attended the Governor’s Fire Prevention Week Proclamation signing on October 4, 2015. This year’s theme was, “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep: Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm.”
