Planning and Development
The Planning and Development division is responsible for the Department’s strategic planning, emergency communications, public education, and oversees information technology systems.
About the Planning and Development Division
Under the direction of an Assistant Chief, the Planning and Development division provides executive assistance to the Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief and manages the Community Risk Reduction Branch, Fire Communication Center, Radio Shop, and Computer section.
Community Risk Reduction Branch
The Community Risk Reduction branch develops, plans, and executes various Departmental programs, including strategic planning and accreditation processing; conducts special studies required by the Department; researches the acquisition and use of real property; provides for grant management processes; and researches and evaluates existing or new programs and services.
The Community Risk Reduction branch also plans, coordinates, and administers the Departmental fire safety, education, and community relations programs; prepares information and materials for release to the media, social media, and the Honolulu Fire Department website; coordinates implementation of and improvements to Departmental information technology systems, applications, and hardware pertinent to public safety and fire fighting operations.
Fire Communication Center
The Fire Communication Center is the City and County of Honolulu’s secondary public safety answering point and the Honolulu Fire Department’s central communication center. The Fire Communication Center’s primary function is to receive calls regarding fire, rescue, and other emergencies and dispatch the appropriate type and number of resources as quickly and accurately as possible. The Fire Communication Center’s authority begins with the receipt of the initial emergency call and ends at the dispatch’s completion. The Fire Communication Center establishes and monitors the incident’s communications and provides assistance to the Incident Commander.
General Fire Communication Center tasks include receiving emergency and nonemergency calls; dispatching the appropriate type and number of fire companies; requesting and receiving interagency requests for mutual aid; establishing, maintaining, and monitoring radio communications with the Honolulu Fire Department and other emergency response agencies; managing islandwide response coverage with company relocations; providing Department wide emergency and nonemergency notifications via the radio and paging systems; receiving and directing business calls to the appropriate bureau or office; managing emergency and nonemergency telephone, cellular, and radio audio recordings; maintaining geographic information system map layers for the rapid and accurate dispatching of fire companies; monitoring road closures affecting emergency travel; and creating caution notes for situation awareness to name a few.
Radio Shop
The Radio Shop plans, directs, and coordinates activities relating to the installation, repair, maintenance, design, and modification of the Honolulu Fire Department’s and the City and County of Honolulu’s communication systems; prepares communications equipment specifications; and maintains records of repairs, maintenance, and licenses records.
Computer Section
The Planning and Development division provides oversight and management of the Computer section who plans and administers the Department’s computer system environment, recommends and purchases hardware and software; provides data network installation and maintenance, software development, computer troubleshooting, and general information technology assistance.
