The Honolulu Fire Department hasn't caught up with the computer age, leaving it with incomplete records of the island's 600-plus residential high-rises and the violations and hazards found in them, according to the city auditor.

Despite investment in computerized database management systems since 2005, the “;department cannot confirm that it has a complete and accurate inventory ... and cannot confirm that all required inspections are being completed within the statutory time frame,”; said the audit, released yesterday.

Auditors found “;cumbersome and complicated paper-based inspection record-keeping systems”; in the review, which focused on the fire inspection program between July 2005 and December 2008.

The audit recommended that the fire department use a street-by-street, systematic inspection approach recommended by the National Fire Protection Association to be assured of a complete inventory of buildings. It recommended that HFD personnel who inspect developers' plans for new buildings and major building renovations get that information into the database.

Honolulu Fire Chief Kenneth Silva said a system of inputting fire inspection data on new buildings could be in effect by July and that the department and the city Department of Information Technology are making improvements in the Fire Inspection Database that will make it easier to use and enhance reporting and analysis of information.

“;The HFD remains committed to seeking partnerships with other agencies toward the development of a complete, islandwide high-rise building inventory,”; Silva said in a written response to audit manager Susan Hall.

The fire chief pointed out that the state law requiring fire inspection every two years was changed to five years at the chief's discretion.

Silva agreed with the audit's recommendation that “;sufficient resources and interagency assistance”; be provided to ensure the database on high-rises is complete. But he pointed out “;additional funding is difficult to obtain due to forecasted budgetary constraints.”;

Its survey of building managers heard “;nearly unanimous satisfaction with the fire inspections ... regarding timeliness, the information they received to resolve violations,”; the audit said. “;The favorable responses attest to the bureau's fire inspection efforts and the educational value of routine fire code inspections.”;