Overview of the 2022
White Paper on Fire Service

Materials created by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency weretranslated by the International Fire Service Information Center

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency(FDMA)

Contents
Special Feature[Special Feature 1]
Improvement of firefighting and disaster prevention systems in light of recent large-scale natural
disasters[Special Feature 2]
Measures regarding novel coronavirus[Special Feature 3]
Enhancement and strengthening of regional disaster prevention capabilities with the volunteer
fire corps at the core[Special Feature 4]
Promotion of Digital Transformation in the field of fire and disaster prevention 5[Special Feature 5]
Response to the launch of ballistic missiles by North Korea on October 4 and November 3, 2022
Main Part

1

Special Feature 1
Improvement of firefighting and disaster prevention systems in light of recent large-scale
natural disasters
Status of the FDMA’s response in light of recent disasters⁄ Based on the landslide disaster in Atami, Shizuoka in 2021, which caused extensive damage, the following measures havebeen implemented.
▶ Established the “Guidelines for Cooperation among Related Organizations in Rescue and Search Activities in the Event ofa Large-Scale Disaster” in June 2022 to ensure effective rescue and search activities through cooperation and coordination
with related organizations such as the police and the Self-Defense Forces.
▶ Establishment of high-spec drones for information gathering activities and small rescue vehicles with excellent mobility, etc.

Activity coordination meeting at the landslidedisaster in Atami, Shizuoka

High-spec information gathering drones

Small rescue vehicle

Our eﬀorts regarding the “five-year strategy for accelerating disaster prevention, mitigation, and national
resilience.”⁄ Under the “Five-Year Acceleration Strategy,” the FDMA has implemented eight measures, including “Measures to Enhance
and Strengthen the National Fire-Service Teams for Large-Scale Disasters” and “Measures Concerning Volunteer Fire Corps
as the Core of Regional Disaster Prevention Capabilities”

Vehicle equipped with central command function (Measures
to Enhance and Strengthen National Fire-Service Teams forLarge-Scale Disasters)

Small vehicle loaded with rescue supplies and equipment andequipped with a power pump

6th National Fire-Service Teams Joint Training⁄ Conducted the 6th National Joint Drill of National Fire-Service Teams to improve their skills and ability to work together (Mapbased training (July 27, 2022) and operating training (November 12 and 13, 2022)).

Map based training (FDMA)

Operating training (landslide disaster rescue
training)

2

Operating training (tsunami castaway
rescue training)Special Feature 2
Measures regarding novel coronavirus⁄ As of November 1, 2022, the number of people infected with novel coronavirus in Japan was 22,360,872, and the cumulative
number of deaths was 46,711 (according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare).
⁄ The following measures have been implemented to prevent infection among ambulance team members at the scene of adisaster.
▶ Partially revised the “Infection Prevention Manual for Ambulance Team
Members” in February 2022, based on communication from the Ministry of
Health, Labour and Welfare.
▶ To prevent shortages of infection-prevention equipment and material frominterfering with Emergency operations, we will procure infection-prevention
equipment and materials such as N95 masks and provide them to fire
departments that need them, utilizing the supplementary budgets.

Examples of infection-prevention equipment and material⁄ The following measures have been implemented to deal with cases that are diﬃcult to transport by ambulance.

▶ Since April 2020, a survey has been being conducted on the number of difficult emergency transport cases at 52 fire
departments nationwide.
*In the second week of August 2022, the number of cases reached 6,747, the highest number ever recorded (as of November 1, 2022) [Figure below].

▶ Requested firefighting agencies continue to promote efforts to encourage local residents to use ambulances in a timely andappropriate manner due to the sharp increase in the number of patients with Omicron strains and other emergency cases
due to things like heat strokes.
▶ Requested prefectures and firefighting agencies implement and strengthen their Ambulance Advice Center Projects (#7119)
as soon as possible.
[Results of the survey on the status of diﬃcult-to-transport cases from each fire department (weekly comparisons)]
6,747 cases(2020 Aug. wk.2)

May

Jun.

Jul.

Aug.

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Jan.

difficult-to-transport cases

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

Jun.

Jul.

Aug.

suspected corona cases

Sep.

wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5
wk.6/wk.1

wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5
wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5/wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5/wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5
wk.6/wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5/wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5/wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5
wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5/wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5/wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5
wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5/wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5

wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5/wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5
wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5/wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5/wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5
wk.6/wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5/wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5
wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5/wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5/wk.1

Dec.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

FY2022Apr.

FY2021

FY2020

wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5/wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5
wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5/wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5/wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5
wk.6/wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5/wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5
wk.1
wk.2
wk.3
wk.4
wk.5/wk.1(cases)

Apr.

May

Jun.

Jul.

Aug.

Sep.

Oct.

FY2020（pre-covid19 crisis）Same Period Comparison(%)*1 In this survey, “diﬃcult-to-transport cases” are those reported by firefighting agencies to the FDMA of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as cases
in which the ambulance team members “made four or more referrals to medical institutions” and “stayed at the scene for 30 minutes or more. Of these cases, none
were not able to be transported to a medical institution.
*2 Surveyed headquarters = 52 in total: fire departments of government ordinance-designated cities, Tokyo Fire Department, and representative fire departments of each prefecture.
*3 Suspected corona case = A case involving an injured or sick person with symptoms of suspected novel coronavirus infection (fever of 37°C (99° F) or higher, dyspnea, etc.)*4 Share the situation with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and prefectures, etc. to ensure the acceptance system of medical institutions.
*5 These figures are preliminary.
*6 This survey does not include those that were referred to medical institutions by health care centers.

⁄ Promoted the full-scale introduction of online training for hazardous materials engineers, and as of October 1, 2022, online
training was available in 41 prefectures.

3

Special Feature 3
Enhancement and strengthening of regional disaster prevention capabilities with the volunteer
fire corps at the core
Current state of the volunteer fire corps⁄ The number of volunteer firefighters has been decreasing by more than 10,000 from the previous year since 2018. In 2022, inparticular, the number of volunteer firefighters decreased by more than 20,000 from the previous year, and is now in a criticalsituation, falling below 800,000 for the first time.(As of April 1, 2022, 783,578, down 21,299 from the previous year.)⁄ Looking at the number of volunteer firefighters who have joined and left the volunteer fire corps in recent years, while thenumber of those who have left the corps has generally leveled off, the number of those who have joined has declined
significantly, with a particularly marked downward trend in the number of younger members.
[Number of Volunteer Firefighters](people)1,400,000(As of April 1 each year)

1,330,995

1,300,000
1,200,000

Number of volunteer firefighters

1,118,036

1,100,000

1,033,376

1,000,000

975,512

951,069

908,043

900,000

883,698 859,995

850,331

843,667 831,982 818,478 804,877
783,578

2017

2018

800,000
700,000

1965

1975

1985

1995

2000

2005

2010

2015

2019

2020

2021

2022

Improvement of volunteer firefighters’ compensation and measures to recruit members⁄ Established the “Standards for Compensation of Part-Time Firefighters,” which stipulates the standard amount of annualcompensation, direct payment to volunteer firefighters, etc., and conducted the “Survey on the Status of Improvement of
Volunteer Firefighters’ Compensation” (as of April 1, 2022).
⁄ The calculation method of local allocation tax has been revised since FY2022 to accurately reﬂect the financial demand forvolunteer firefighters’ remuneration, etc. paid by each municipality.
⁄ Implemented a campaign to encourage firefighters to join the fire brigade, a “model project to improve the power of the firebrigade,” government subsidies for rescue equipment and materials, and free loans of multifunctional fire trucks equippedwith rescue equipment and materials.

The Commissioner of the FDMA’s Notification on “Volunteer Firefighter Compensation Standards”(April 13, 2021)

4

Firefighter Recruitment Poster

Special Feature 4
Promotion of Digital Transformation in the field of fire and disaster prevention
Expedite and facilitate emergency services by utilizing the Individual Number Card (My Number Card)⁄ Study on the use of the Individual number card held by the injured or sick person to enable ambulance team members to accurately
and quickly grasp the injured or sick person’s medical information, etc., and to speed up and facilitate emergency operations.

Illustration of emergency services using the Individual Number Card (My Number Card)

Promote the introduction of electronic applications for various procedures in fire laws and regulations⁄ The following efforts are being made to promote the introduction of electronic applications which can reduce the burden of counter visits.
▶ Establishment of a standard model for electronic applications utilizing the Mynaportal “Pittari Service”▶ Created a manual for the introduction of electronic applications for fire departments.
▶ Implementation support by advisors

Promote Digital Transformation in firefighting education and training⁄ The following efforts are being implemented to prevent injuries and accidents and to develop human resources with advanced
Mynaportal
Pittari
Service

Citizens

ApplicantInternet

fill in an
application
form

Attachment

Municipalities

Fire dept.

Application

LGWAN

DB data

RouterManageapplication datawith Mynaportal

Application
data

LGWAN-connected
Terminal

Preventive duty
SystemThe overview of electronic applications, etc. using the Mynaportal Pittari Service

disaster response capabilities.

▶ Develop a “firefighting sharing website” where activity manuals,
training materials, etc. are shared among related organizations.

▶ Creation of training content using VR
VR image (during search activities)

VR image (during firefighting activities)

Wearing VR goggles*The image of wearing VR goggles is forillustrative purposes only.

The overview of firefighting sharing website

Training content utilizing VR

5

Special Feature 5
Response to the launch of ballistic missiles by North Korea on October 4 and November 3, 2022
⁄ Since January 2022, North Korea has been repeatedly launching ballistic missiles with high frequency. In addition to prompt
information transmission via J-Alert, the FDMA has been promoting the designation of evacuation facilities (emergency
temporary evacuation facilities) in concrete and other solid buildings and underground facilities, and has resumed joint
evacuation drills for residents in anticipation of ballistic missiles since FY2022, which had been suspended since June 2018.
⁄ With regard to the ballistic missiles launched on October 4 and November 3, they passed or had the possibility of passing
through Japan’s territory and territorial waters. The FDMA immediately established the FDMA Emergency Management
Headquarters headed by the commissioner to disseminate information via J-Alert, and request appropriate responses anddamage reports from the areas subject to J-Alert, and received reports from all local governments that there was no damage.

[Information transmission by J-Alert at the time of ballistic missile launch]⁄ In light of the various opinions received on the transmission of information by J-Alert, including the need to further accelerate
the transmission time of J-Alerts, the relevant ministries and agencies will work together to examine ways to improve thesituation. Additionally, the FDMA also requested that municipalities that experienced diﬃculties in communicating information
to their residents promptly restore or secure their information transmission systems by utilizing alternative means, andrequested that municipalities nationwide conduct an emergency inspection of their J-Alert devices and confirm that they are
working properly.

6Major statistical figures in main part, etc.

7Current Status of Fires and Recent Trends (Chapter 1, Section 1)⁄ The number of fire incidents and the number of fatalities from fires have been gradually trending downward over the past 10
years.
⁄ The number of fire incidents in 2021 was 35,222 (up by 531 from the previous year), equating to 70.4% versus 10 years ago.
⁄ The number of fatalities from fires was 1,417 (up by 91 from the previous year), equating to 80.2% versus 10 years ago.
[Trends in the number of fire incidents and the number of fatalities from fires](cases)(people)3,000

60,000

Number of fire outbreaks

50,00650,00040,00048,09544,189

1,766

1,721

Number of fatalities from fires

43,741

1,625

39,111

36,83139,37337,981 37,683

1,678
1,563

30,000

1,452

1,456

1,427

34,691 35,222

1,486
1,326

1,417

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

20,000
2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Notes: 1. Prepared based on “Fire Report”
2. See the left axis for the “Number of fire outbreaks” and the right axis for the “Number of fatalities from fire”

2019

2020

2021

⁄ Most casualties from fires were caused by building fires. In terms of the number of building fires in 2021, house fires accounted
for the largest number of fires by purpose of buildings.
⁄ The number of fatalities from house fires (excluding suicides by arson, etc.) was 966 (up by 67 from the previous year).
⁄ The number of house fires(excluding arson) in 2021 was 10,243.
[Trends in the number of house fires (excluding arson) and the number of fatalities from house fires (excluding suicides by arson, etc.)](cases)(people)20,0001,500

15,00010,00013,673

12,832 12,502 11,855

1,070 1,016

5,000

997

11,102 10,523

10,489 10,269 10,058 9,890 10,243
1,000

1,006

914

885

889

946

899

899

966

Number of house fires (excluding arson)

Number of fatalities from house fires (excluding suicides by arson, etc.)

0
2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Notes: 1. Prepared based on “Fire Report”
2. See the left axis for the “Number of fire outbreaks” and the right axis for the “Number of fatalities from fire”

8

2019

500
2020

2021

Status of Fire Service Organizations (As of April 1, 2022) (Chapter 2, Section 1)⁄ Fire departments- 723 fire departments and 1,714 fire stations have been established. The number of firefighters is 167,510 (an increase of
437 from the previous year).
⁄ Volunteer fire corps- The number of volunteer fire corps is 2,196 and the number of members is 783,578 (a decrease of 21,299 from the previousyear).
- Volunteer fire corps have been established in every municipality.
[Trends in the number of firefighters and volunteer fire corps members](people)175,000(As of April 1 each year)

170,000
165,000
160,000

163,043

161,244

159,730

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

167,073

165,438

163,814

162,124

160,392

155,000

167,510

166,628

164,873

2018

2019

Number of firefighters
2020

2021

2022

（人）

950,000
874,193900,000
850,000

864,347

Number of volunteer firefighters

856,278

843,667

859,995

868,872

818,478

850,331800,000

831,982783,578804,877

750,000

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Notes:1. Prepared based on “The Survey on the Current Status of Fire and Disaster Prevention and Earthquake Countermeasures”
2. Due to the effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the figures for Onagawa Town, Oshika-Gun, Miyagi Prefecture for 2012 were totaled via the figures from two
years ago (as of April 1, 2010).

Implementation Status of Ambulance Services (Chapter 2, Section 5)⁄ The number of emergency calls by ambulance during 2021 was about 6.19 million (an increase of about 0.26 million from theprevious year).
⁄ The number of ambulance service teams established as of April 1, 2022 is 5,328 teams (an increase of 26 teams from theprevious year), which is roughly an 7% increase compared to 10 years ago.
⁄ The average time required to reach the scene was about 9.4 minutes in 2021 (1.2 minutes longer than 10 years ago).
⁄ The average time required to take the sick and wounded to hospital was about 42.8 minutes in 2021 (4.7 minutes longer than
10 years ago).
[Trends in the time required to reach the scene and the time required totake sick and wounded to hospital by ambulance][Trends in the number of ambulance dispatch cases and the number of
ambulance service teams](10,000cases)(teams) (minutes)

700
650
600
550
500

571

580

4,965
4,927

592 598
5,028

634
605621
5,140

5,090
5,004 5,069

6,000

661 664
593

400
350

11.0

619
5,500

10.0

5,270

5,328
5,215 5,302
5,179
5,000

450

Number of ambulance dispatch cases
Number of ambulance service teams
established (as of April 1 each year)
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

(minutes)

12.0

9.0

42.8
39.4 39.4
39.3 39.3 39.5 40.6
38.7 39.3
38.1
9.4
39.5
8.9
8.5 8.6 8.6 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.7
8.2 8.3

8.0

45.0
40.0
35.0
30.0

7.0

4,500

6.0
4,000

5.0

Time required to take the sick andwounded to a hospitalTime required to reach the scene
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

25.0
20.0

Notes: 1. Prepared based on “The Annual Reports on Ambulance Service”
2. In the graph on the left, see the left axis for the “number of ambulance dispatch cases” and the right axis for the “number of ambulance service teams established (as ofApril 1 each year)”.

3. In the graph on the right, see the left axis for the “time required to reach the scene” and the right axis for the “time required to take someone to a hospital”.
4. Due to the effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the figures for the right-hand graph were totaled by excluding the data for the fire department at the Otsuchi
District Administrative Affairs Association in Kamaishi and the fire department in Rikuzentakata City in 2011.

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Main Part
[Chapter 1] Current Status of and Challenges for Disasters
Section 1. Fire Prevention[Column] Preventive Measures in Light of the Fire at a Building in Kita-ku, Osaka City
Section 2. Countermeasures to Disasters at Facilities for Hazardous Materials
Section 3. Countermeasures to Disasters at Petroleum Industrial Complexes
Section 4. Countermeasures to Fires in Forests and Fields
Section 5. Countermeasure to Storm and Floods
Section 6. Countermeasures to Earthquake
Section 7. Countermeasures to Nuclear Disasters
Section 8. Countermeasures to Other Disasters[Chapter 2] Fire and Disaster Prevention Organizations and Activities
Section 1. Fire Service Structure
Section 2. Promotion of Integration of Fire Department
Section 3. The Activities of Firefighting Personnel[Column] Renewal of the FDMA’s “Portal Site for Promoting the Career Advancement of Female
Firefighters” on their website[Column] Promotion of Women Joining Fire Brigades and Revitalization of Women Firefighters’ Activities
Section 4. Education and Training Structure
Section 5. Ambulance Service System[Column] Promotion of the Ambulance Adviser Center project (#7119)
Section 6. Rescue System
Section 7. Aerial Fire and Disaster Prevention System
Section 8. Integrated Fire Service Support and National Fire-Service Team for Disaster Response
Section 9. The Disaster Prevention Systems of National and Local Government
Section 10. Promoting the Computerization of Fire and Disaster Prevention[Chapter 3] Responses for Public Safety
Section 1. Efforts for Public Safety
Section 2. Response to the Case of a Ballistic Missile Launch by North Korea[Column] Promotion of the Designation of Evacuation Facilities for the People Protection[Chapter 4] Voluntary Fire and Disaster Prevention Activities and Building Communities that are
Resistant to Disasters[Chapter 5] Responding to International Challenges[Column] Assistance to Ukraine in the form of firefighting and rescue equipment and materials[Chapter 6]

Research and Development on Science and Technology for Fire and Disaster Prevention

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