Overview of the 2017
White Paper on Fire Service

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

Fire and Disaster Management Agency(FDMA)

(Special Feature 1) The Damage from and Response to Torrential Rain in
Northern Kyushu in July 2017
[Extent of the Damage]c In the “Torrential Rain in Northern Kyushu in July
2017,” small and medium-sized rivers in mountainous
areas rose and flooded due to the effect of intense
rainfall, causing landslides, etc.
c The resulting human harm left 37 people dead in
Fukuoka and Oita Prefectures (including 1
member of a volunteer fire corps) and a further 4
missing person (as of November 2, 2017), withwidespread damage also occurring to residences, etc.
State of damage in Masue district, Asakura City
(Provided by Hyogo Fire Fighting Disaster
Prevention Air Corps)[Activities of Firefighting Agencies]
c Local fire departments, volunteer fire corps, supporting fire departments within the prefecture,and Emergency Fire Response Teams were active in rescuing residents affected by the disaster,giving evacuation guidance, etc.
c In Oita Prefecture, the activities of Emergency Fire Response Teams spanned a period of 6 days
between July 5 and 10; during the peak period, 100 teams with a total of 408 members took part,
rescuing 29 people.
On July 9, taking into account the progress of search and rescue activities in Hita City, upon arequest by the Commissioner of the FDMA for the transfer of the teams, Saga Prefecture
Battalion, Aichi Prefecture Battalion, and Kumamoto Prefecture Battalion moved from Oita
Prefecture to Fukuoka Prefecture.
c In Fukuoka Prefecture, the activities of Emergency Fire Response Teams spanned a period of 20
days between July 6 and 25; during the peak period, 170 teams with a total of 627 members took
part, rescuing 30 people.
c In Fukuoka and Oita Prefectures, which suffered damage, each volunteer fire corps carried out abroad range of activities to preserve the safety and security of the area, including evacuation
guidance for residents, rescue activities, confirming the safety of residents, as well as checks ofisolated villages, patrols, etc.
In Hita City, 1 member of a volunteer fire corps was caught up
in a landslide and died in the course of patrol duties.

Search and rescue activities using anamphibious buggy

Rescue using a helicopter hoist(Provided by Yamaguchi Fire Fighting
Disaster Prevention Air Corps)

Activities of volunteer fire corps(Asakura City Volunteer Fire Corps)[Response Considering Damage from Torrential Rain]c Taking into account the lessons from this disaster, regional public organizations have beenrequested to carry out fire and disaster management drill in line with the local situation,
expedite the installation of water gauges, etc., to obtain information rapidly, expedite thedrawing up of standards for the issue of evacuation advisories, etc., and the introduction ofmultiple methods of transmitting information, strengthen the functions of disaster response
headquarters, etc.
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(Special Feature 2) The Nature of Fire and Disaster Management Henceforth,
Considering the Large-scale Fire in Itoigawa City
[Overview of the Fire]c The fire broke out around 10:20 on December 22, 2016 in Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture, after the failure toturn off a large gas ring in a ramen noodle restaurant in an area of the city with a dense concentration of woodenbuildings.
c The burnt out area extended to 30,213.45 m2, making it the first largescale urban fire in 40 years since the major fire in Sakata City in
1976 (excluding fires caused by earthquakes).
c 17 people were injured: 2 members of the public (2 persons withmild injuries), 15 members of volunteer fire corps (1 person with amoderate injury, 14 persons with mild injuries), but no deaths
occurred.

[Response Considering the Fire]The shopping street became a burnt wasteland(Provided by Itoigawa City Fire Department)c A review committee was set up following this fire.
c A recommendation was made about the need to consider necessary countermeasures based on the premisethat a large-scale fire such as this one can break out anywhere in the country where there are areas withmany wooden buildings when the wind is strong.
c In response to this, at the same time as notifying local fire departments about matters needing to be addressed suchas the confirmation and designation of high-risk areas, the drawing up of fire protection plans, the review
of support systems, the securing of sources of water for firefighting, the thorough reinforcement of safety
management for volunteer fire corps, etc., explanatory meetings were held.
At the FDMA, at the same time as considering making the installation of fire extinguishers by small-scalecatering establishments compulsory, a model project of interlinked residential fire alarms was
implemented.
c In addition, each municipality was notified about the need for practical large-scale fire drill, including theprevention of the spread of fire by residents, and such initiatives are being promoted.

(Special Feature 3) Response Considering the Warehouse Fire in Miyoshi Town,
Saitama Prefecture[Overview of the Fire]c A fire broke out in a large warehouse in Miyoshi Town, Saitama
Prefecture, on February 16, 2017, burning an area of around 45,000 m2,
and requiring around 12 days from the outbreak until it was extinguished.
c Flames were discovered around 9:00 the same day, and an attempt to
extinguish the fire was unsuccessful, while the failure of the fire shuttersto operate led to the spread of the fire.
c All those in the building escaped outside, but 2 of them were injured
during the initial stage of firefighting.

[Response Considering the Fire]The state of the building at the time of the fire(around 12:00 on February 16)(Provided by Saitama Fire Fighting Disaster
Prevention Air Corps)

cA review committee was set up jointly with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
following this fire.
cRegarding matters needing to be addressed by business operators and local fire departments, in addition tosecuring countermeasures which ensure that the spread of fire can be halted at the initial stage, arecommendation was made about the enhancement of countermeasures which are more effective inputting out even fires which have spread more widely.
cIn response to these recommendations, at the same time as notifying firefighting agencies of carrying out
instruction of drill, etc., about large warehouses, information about drawing up firefighting guidelines forwarehouse fires is being communicated and explanatory meetings for each bloc are being held to expedite
the initiative.
cAt the FDMA, in order to enhance the fire and disaster prevention system henceforth, the construction of anadvisor system for large-scale fires, etc., and research and development into the upgrading of fire
simulations are being considered.

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(Special Feature 4) The Promotion of Fire and Disaster Management Cooperation and Collaboration– Considering the Report of the 28th Fire and Disaster Management Council –[The 28th Fire and Disaster Management Council]c While population decline advances and human and financial resources grow limited, further equipping andestablishing of the fire and disaster management system are needed in order to respond appropriately to largescale fires, etc.
c At the 28th Fire and Disaster Management Council, a “Report on the Expansion of Fire and Disaster
Management, as well as Cooperation and Collaboration” was compiled in March 2017.

[Response Considering the Report]c At the FDMA, at the same time as promoting the most effective methods for the equipping and establishment of
the fire and disaster management system for expansion, in order to enhance the fire and disastermanagement capacity even in areas which need time for the expansion of fire and disaster management,
flexible “fire and disaster management cooperation and collaboration,” such as joint command
operations or the joint maintenance of firefighting vehicles, is being promoted as a part of fire anddisaster management work, in accordance with the nature of that work.
c At the FDMA, in order to generate a stock of case studies of concrete precedents in fire and disastermanagement cooperation and collaboration leading to more effective promotion, a project to constructmodels of cooperation and collaboration was implemented in FY2017, aiming to deepen cooperation andcollaboration even further, and to use this as a step
towards the increased expansion of fire and disastermanagement.
cThe cooperation and collaboration promotion period is from
April 1, 2017 to April 1, 2023.

Ibaraki Fire and Disaster Management Control Center(joint command operations)(Special Feature 5) Enhancing and Strengthening Regional Disaster Prevention
Capabilities Centered around Volunteer Fire Corps[Policies to Enhance and Strengthen Volunteer Fire Corps](Promoting Enrollment in Volunteer Fire Corps)c Opportunities are being taken to inform prefectures and municipalities about matters which need to be addressedin order to promote volunteer fire corps enrollment by students, women, employed persons, and civil
servants, and meetings are being held to promote this initiative.
c The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications sends letters of gratitude to volunteer fire corps
whose membership has considerably increased compared with the previous year.
(Improving Treatment of Volunteer Fire Corps Members)c The FDMA requests that annual compensation and dispatch allowances be raised, particularly byorganizations with low allowances (organizations offering no compensation were done away with in FY2015).
(Enhancing and Strengthening Equipment)
c With the aim of enhancing safety equipment like life jackets and rescue equipment, local tax grant measurescontinued to be expanded in FY2017, following on from FY2016.
c Fire academies are being provided in a planned way with equipment for information-gathering activities(off-road motorcycles, drones) and small-capacity pumps which can be easily used by women and students.

[Measures for Enhancing and Strengthening Volunteer Fire Corps
to be Instituted in an Ongoing Manner]c Promoting the cooperation and understanding of offices towards
activities by volunteer fire corps.
c Promoting additional enrollment by university students, vocational
school students, and other members of the younger generation.
c Promoting the active involvement of female volunteer fire corps members.
c Introducing measures to diversify volunteer fire corps organizations andprograms, such as function-specific members.

Nationwide Female Firefighting
Skills Convention3

(Special Feature 6) Promotion of the Active Involvement of Female Firefighting
Officials in Firefighting[Current Status regarding Female Firefighting Officials]

c The percentage of women among the total number of firefighting officials throughout Japan remains at a low
level compared with the percentages in the police, Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), and the Japan Coast Guard(2.6% as of April 1, 2017).
c The target is to raise the nationwide ratio of female firefighting officials to all firefighting officials to 5% by the
beginning of FY2026.

[Initiatives for Promoting the Active Involvement of Female Firefighting Officials]

c As well as the holding of occupational briefing sessions aimed at female students, etc., support for calls for local
fire departments to participate in careers events held by the private sector and chances for female students, etc., toexperience the workplace at local fire departments.
c Distribution of a guidebook that uses concrete examples in order to show the career paths, working
arrangements and working terms and conditions, job descriptions, balancing family life, etc., of female
firefighting officials.
c Extensive PR via a portal site, etc.
c Increase in the number of places on the Fire and Disaster Management
College’s course to promote the active involvement of women, expansion of thenumber of course days.

Portal site to promote the active involvementof female firefighting officials

Firefighting drill (course to promote theactive involvement of women)“WORK + LIFE Guidebook” forfemale firefighting officials(Special Feature 7) Measures to Respond to Harassment, etc., within Fire Departments[Current Status regarding Harassment, etc., within Fire Departments]c A working group on the nature of measures taken by local fire departments has been set up.
c In a fact-finding survey, 17.5% of men responded that they had “experienced harassment by someone in aposition of power” within the last year, while 28.0% of women responded that they had “experienced
sexual harassment.”[Response Considering the Current Status]c As responses that should be implemented by local fire departments, clarificationof the intentions of those in charge, the establishment of systems forreporting harassment, etc., and of advice desks on harassment, stricter
disciplinary measures, implementation of self-check questionnaires for staff,
enhancement of training, etc.
c As responses that should be implemented by prefectures, the establishment ofadvice desks on harassment, and the enhancement of lectures and training.
c As responses at the FDMA, the establishment ofan FDMA advice desk on harassment, etc., andthe holding of explanatory meetings for regional
blocs nationwide.
c Henceforth, interviews and surveys on the stateof progress will be carried out and, taking into
consideration the results, the necessary
measures will be taken to eliminate
harassment, etc.
Nationwide explanatory meetings forregional blocs: Osaka venue

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Leaflet about the FDMA advice
desk on harassment, etc.

(Special Feature 8) Enhancement of Ambulance Service Systems[Promotion of Measures to Meet the Demand for Ambulance Services]c In addition to enabling ambulances to reach patients in an urgent condition as
rapidly as possible, the nationwide rollout of the “Ambulance Services Peace ofMind Center Project (#7119)” and the creation of the nationwide emergency
treatment app “Q-suke” are taking place as initiatives to support residents inaccessing medical facilities at the appropriate stage.

[Acceleration of Awareness Raising and Education about First Aid]c In order to disseminate first aid knowledge and skills widely among the generalpublic, awareness raising and education are being accelerated via an online firstaid course aimed at the general public (e-learning), and oral guidance given
over the telephone is being promoted.

Nationwide emergency
treatment app “Q-suke”

[Response of Ambulance Services to Foreign 
Visitors]c Due to the increase in foreign visitors to Japan, there
is a demand for smooth communications  withforeigners at the actual point of use of ambulance
services, and so the “Multilingual 119 Responseusing Three-way Simultaneous Interpretation

through a Telephone Interpretation Center,”for“Ambulance Service VoiceTra,” and “Guide
Ambulance Services” are being developed and theiruse by fire departments nationwide expedited. Pre-registered set phrases

Select set
phraseEnglish transcription screen

Japanese transcription screen

Translate

Ambulance Service VoiceTra screens(Special Feature 9) Enhancement and Strengthening of Information Support Measures for the
Elderly, People with Disabilities, and Foreigners in Times of Disaster[Acceleration of the Dissemination of Individual Home Receivers for Emergency Municipal Radio
Communications]c Individual home receivers, installed indoors, are an extremely effective means of information transmission attimes when it is hard to hear the sound from outdoor speakers, such as during torrential rain.
c Study meetings have been held in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
Telecommunications Bureau, compiling measures to expedite the dissemination of individual home receivers,
such as the reduction of installation costs, etc.
c In response to this, consideration of standard models and a sample specifications document, etc., for thefunctions of individual home receivers has begun from the standpoint of promoting measures to further expedite
the dissemination of individual home receivers.
Outdoor public
publliicc
substation
address substa
tationta
Individual home receiver(image)Municipal office

Individual home receiverreceiviveerriv[Fire Safety Measures which Consider the Elderly, People with Disabilities, and Foreign Visitors]c “Guidelines on the Transmission of Disaster Information and Evacuation Guidance at Facilities used by Foreign
Visitors, etc.” will be drawn up by the end of FY2017, and the dissemination of information transmission andevacuation guidance which consider foreign visitors, etc., will be expedited in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo
Olympics and Paralympics.
c At the same time as drawing up guidelines stating effective methods of installing light alarm devices, which
can appropriately transmit the alarm when a fire breaks out to elderly or disabled people with hearing disabilities,
etc., using light rather than sound, operating information related to their installation is being issued and theirdissemination promoted.

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(Special Feature 10) Issues with Information Transmission via the Nationwide Early
Warning System (J-Alert), and Responses[Response to the Launch of Ballistic Missiles]
c Regarding the concerns about the launch of ballistic missiles by North Korea, as national and local
public bodies remained on a state of alert, ballistic missiles passed through the airspace over
Hokkaido and fell into the Pacific Ocean on August 29 and September 15, and emergency
information was transmitted via J-Alert to 617 municipalities in 12 prefectures including
Hokkaido.
[Issues with Information Transmission via J-Alert, and Responses](Measures to eliminate the malfunctioning of J-Alert)c During information transmission via J-Alert on August 29, although the information transmitted
was received without error by all 617 municipalities in the target area, there were 24 local
governments in which obstacles arose in the course of transmitting this information to residents.
c The FDMA collated measures to eliminate malfunctioning during J-Alert information transmission
and, at the same time as requesting cooperation with these measures from regional publicorganizations, in addition to sharing information on the causes of the malfunctions nationwide
and holding explanatory and study meetings, enhanced information transmission drill about
checking the automatic launch of means of information transmission, etc.
(Policies to enhance the introduction of multiple means of information transmission, etc.)
c In order to promote initiatives for local public organizations to use multiple means of informationtransmission aligned with J-Alert and to introduce new models of receiver, support will be given via
emergency disaster prevention / disaster reduction industrial bonds.
(Promotion of understanding among citizens about the launch of ballistic missiles)
c As a means of promoting understanding among citizens about the launch of ballistic missiles,
information aimed at citizens was transmitted between May and September 2017 via government
advertisements on television, in newspapers, etc., and the Cabinet Secretariat’s “Civil Protection
Portal Site,” etc.
c From March 2017, resident evacuation drills using the scenario of a ballistic missile have been
carried out jointly by national and regional public organizations in order to promote even deeper
understanding among citizens about how to cope when there is a possibility of a ballistic missile strikeon our nation.

Actions in case of
missiles flying to JapanIt may take less than 10 minutes that missiles reach Japan after
being launched.
If missiles are about to hit Japan possibly, J-ALERT systemprovides emergency information through various devices such assirens and emails.

1. Evacuate immediately.
2. Collect precise information
immediately.
Follow official instruction and take action calmly.

Civil Protection Portal Site

J-Alert (example) Evacuate immediately. Go into abuilding or underground nearby. A missile may reach Japan.
Go inside immediately.

When you receive a message,

Stay calm and take action immediately.
OutsideCanʼt finda building
nearby?

Protecting Ourselves against Armed Attacks andTerrorism

Look in advance:

Insidehttp://www.kokuminhogo.go.jp/shiryou/
hogo_manual.html

In the event of a ballistic missile strike, you can see the state of
the government response here:

Prime Ministerof Japan and
His Cabinet
www.kantei.go.jp

Twitter accountDisaster/crisis management informationfrom the Prime Minister’s OfficeA
missile hit
in nearbyarea?

Go into a nearby *abuildingor
sturdy building if possible
underground, such as underground
shopping arcade and subway
stations.
Lie flat on the ground or take coverbehind anything that might offer
protection.

Children evacuated to a gymnasium

Stay inside well away from windows
or stay in a windowless room.
z Outside: Cover your nose and mouth with cloth.
Evacuate from an impact area. Evacuate toward thewindward side or into a sealed room.
z Inside: Stop a ventilator, close windows and seal cracks
of a room.

Actions in case of missiles flying to Japan
Residents taking cover under a bridgeover an irrigation channel

6Major Statistical Figures
Current Status of Fires and Recent Trends (Chapter 1, Section 1){ The number of fire outbreaks and number of fatalities from fires have been gradually trending downward
over the past ten years• The number of fire outbreaks in 2016 came to 36,831, with the number of fatalities from these fires coming to 1,452
people.
• The number of fire outbreaks decreased compared to the previous year (a decrease of 2,280 fires), coming to 69.1%
versus ten years ago.
• The number of fatalities from fires decreased compared to the previous year (decrease of 111 people), coming to 70.2%
versus ten years ago.
• There were 3,586 cases of fires caused by arson, which has been the number one cause of outbreaks of fire for 20 years
in a row.
[Trends in the number of fire outbreaks and the number of fatalities from fires](During each year)(People)(Fires)60,0003,000
53,27654,582

52,394

51,13946,62050,00050,00648,09544,189

2,067

2,005

1,969

40,0002,500
43,741
39,111

1,877
1,738

1,766

1,721

1,625

36,831

1,678
1,563
1,452

30,0002,000

Number of fire outbreaks

1,500

Number of fatalities from fires

20,000
2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

1,000
2016 (Year)

Notes: 1. Prepared based on Fire Reports
2. See the left axis for the “Number of fire outbreaks” and the right axis for the “Number of fatalities from fire”• The number of house fires (excluding arson) in 2016 came to 10,523 fires, while the number of fatalities from house
fires (excluding suicides by arson, etc.) came to 885 people.
• The number of house fires decreased from the previous year (a decrease of 579 fires), coming to 63.1% versus ten years
ago.
• The number of fatalities from house fires decreased from the previous year (a decrease of 29 people), coming to 74.6%
versus ten years ago.
• The installation rate for home fire alarms is 81.7% (as of June 1, 2017).
[Trends in the number of house fires (excluding arson) and the number of fatalities from house fires (excluding suicides byarson, etc.)](During each year)(People)(Fires)

20,0001,500
16,683 16,177

15,614

14,77815,0001,187

14,044 13,673
12,832 12,502

1,123
1,023

1,148

1,022

10,0001,016

11,855

11,102 10,523

997

1,070

1,000

1,006

Number of house fires(excluding arson)

885

914

5,000
Number of fatalities from house fires(excluding suicides by arson, etc.)02006
Notes:

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

500
2016 (Year)

1. Prepared based on Fire Reports
2. See the left axis for the “Number of house fires (excluding arson)” and the right axis for the “Number of fatalities from house fires(excluding suicides by arson, etc.)”

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Status for Firefighting Organizations (As of April 1, 2017) (Chapter 2, Section 1){ Fire departments• 732 fire departments and 1,718 fire stations have been established, with the number of firefighting personnel coming to
163,814 people.
• The number of firefighting personnel increased compared to the previous year (an increase of 771 people), coming to104.1% versus ten years ago.
{ Volunteer fire corps• The number of volunteer fire corps is 2,209 and the number of members is 850,331 people. Volunteer fire corps havebeen established in every municipality.
• The number of volunteer fire corps members decreased compared to the previous year (a decrease of 5,947 people),coming to 95.2% versus ten years ago.
[Trends in the number of firefighting personnel and volunteer fire corps members](People)(As of April 1 of each year)

170,000

163,814165,000
160,000

157,396

163,043
161,244

159,730

158,809

157,860

155,000

160,392

159,354

158,327

162,124

Number of firefighting personnel

150,000(People)

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2017 (Year)2016

1,000,000

Number of volunteer fire corps members

950,000
900,000

885,394

892,893879,978
868,872

850,000

850,331859,995

883,698

888,900

874,193864,347

856,278

800,000
2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017 (Year)

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 number of firefighting personnel and volunteer fire corps members in Iwate Prefecture,
Miyagi Prefecture, and Fukushima Prefecture for 2011 were totaled via the figures from the previous year (as of April 1, 2010).
3. Due to the effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the figures for Onagawa Town, Oshika-Gun, Miyagi Prefecture for 2012 were totaled via thefigures from two years ago (as of April 1, 2010).

Ambulance Service Implementation Status (Chapter 2, Section 5){ The number of times ambulances have been dispatched for emergencies has shown a more or less consistent upward
trend. In 2016 they were dispatched a record high around 6,210,000 times, which is a roughly 19% increase compared
to ten years ago.
{ The number of ambulance service teams established as of April 1, 2017 is 5,140 teams (an increase of 50 teams
compared with the previous year), which is a roughly 6% increase compared with ten years ago.
{ The average time required to take someone to a hospital was 39.3 minutes in 2016 (this is 7.3 minutes longer
compared with ten years ago).
{ The average time required to reach the scene was 8.5 minutes in 2016 (this is 1.9 minutes longer compared with ten
years ago).
[Trends in the number of times ambulances have been dispatched for
emergencies and the number of ambulance service teams established](10,000 cases)

650
580

600

592 598

510
500
450
400

512
4,910

4,779
4,846

4,871 4,892

Time required to reachthe scene (minutes)

6,000

12.0

5,500
5,004

4,965
4,927

5,028

45.0

5,090

Number of times ambulances have been
dispatched for emergencies

36.1

10.0

39.3
37.4 38.1 38.7

39.3
39.4
39.4

9.0
5,000

33.4
32.0
7.7

8.0
4,500

7.0

8.3

8.5 8.6 8.6

8.5

35.0

30.0

7.0
Time required to reach the scene

6.0
4,000

6.6

7.9 8.1

8.2

25.0

Time required to take the victim tohospital

5.0(Year)
Notes: 1. Prepared based on Ambulance Service Annual Reports
2. 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 defense headquarters at the Otsuchi District
Administrative Affairs Association in Kamaishi and the fire defense headquarters in Rikuzentakata City from 2010 and 2011.

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40.0

35.0

5,069 5,140

Number of ambulance service teams established(as of April 1 each year)

350

Time required to take thevictim to hospital (minutes)

11.0

571
524 529(Teams)

621

605

546
550

[Trends in the time required to reach the scene and the timerequired to take someone to a hospital by ambulances]

20.0(Year)

Emergency Fire Response Teams (Chapter 2, Section 8)
c The number of Emergency Fire Response Teams registered as of April 1, 2017 was 5,658 teams (an increase of 357 teams
compared with a year earlier).
c Emergency Fire Response Teams are made up of command support teams, prefectural battalions, joint task force, andEmergency Response Units for Disasters with Energy and Industrial Infrastructure (Dragon Hyper Command Units).
c An action plan on operating policy, etc., for Emergency Fire Response Teams in an earthquake in the Nankai Troughor directly under the capital is being drawn up, taking into account the response measures and damage envisaged by theCentral Disaster Management Council.
Emergency Response Units for Disasters with Energy andIndustrial Infrastructure (Dragon Hyper Command Units)• The mission of Emergency Response Units for
Disasters with Energy and Industrial Infrastructure
is to carry out specialist firefighting activities
rapidly and appropriately in the particular disasters
occurring in areas in which energy/industrial
infrastructure such as petrochemical complexes or
chemical plants are located.
• They are made up of special vehicles able to send
and discharge large volumes of water long
distances.
Symbol used nationwide

Core vehicles of the Dragon Hyper Command Units
Hose extension vehicle equipped with large water cannon (left)
Large-capacity water pump vehicle (right)

Commemorative Project to Mark the 70th Anniversary of the Local Government Fireand Disaster Management System (Chapter 4)c On March 7, 1948, the Fire and Disaster Management Organization Act came into effect, and today’s “local government fireand disaster management,” based on the principle of fire and disaster management by municipalities, was born.
c March 7, 2018 will mark the 70th anniversary of the coming into effect of the Fire and Disaster Management Organization
Act, and so it is planned to hold a Local Government Fire and Disaster Management System 70 th Anniversary
Commemorative Ceremony.
c In advance of the commemorative ceremony, in order to build momentum, as well as having Ms. Noda, the Minister forInternal Affairs and Communications, throw the ceremonial first pitch at a professional baseball game as a Local
Government Fire and Disaster Management System 70th Anniversary commemorative event, a Fall Fire Prevention
Concert was held with the collaboration of the Yokohama City Fire and Disaster Management Band and the Tokyo Fire
Department Band.

Ms. Noda, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications,
throws the ceremonial first pitch at a professional baseball game

Fall Fire Prevention Concert

Active Role After the September 2017 Mexico
Earthquakes (Chapter 5)
c An International Emergency Relief Team of 72 people (including 17 members of
the International Rescue Team of Japanese Fire-Service) was dispatched (for 8days), carrying out search and rescue activities at 3 sites in Mexico City wherebuildings had collapsed.
䕿 The Mexican government did not issue a general request for assistance tointernational society, but requested the dispatch of a search and rescue teamfrom Japan due to their expectations of Japan’s experience and expertise indisaster relief (Japan was the only country in Asia to receive a request from the
Mexican government and dispatch a search and rescue team).

Search and rescue activities in Tlalpan
Mexico earthquake disaster(dispatched September 2017)(Provided by JICA)

9

<Reference> 2017 White Paper on Fire Service- Contents (Special Features)
Special Feature 1.

The Damage from and Response to Torrential Rain in Northern Kyushu in July 2017

1. Overview of the Damage
2. Activities of the Government, FDMA, Firefighting Agencies, and Others
3. Response Henceforth Considering Damage from Torrential Rain

Special Feature 2.

The Nature of Fire and Disaster Management Henceforth, Considering the Largescale Fire in Itoigawa City

1. The Large-scale Fire in Itoigawa City
2. Establishment of a Review Committee and Issue of Notifications
3. Basic Approach Considering the Large-scale Fire in Itoigawa City
4. Matters Needing to be Addressed by Local Fire Departments, etc.
5. Appropriate Actions by Residents in Large-scale Fires, etc.

Special Feature 3.

Response Considering the Warehouse Fire in Miyoshi Town, Saitama Prefecture

1. The Warehouse Fire in Miyoshi Town, Saitama Prefecture
2. Establishment of a Review Committee and Issue of Notifications
3. The Main Issues Raised by the Warehouse Fire in Miyoshi Town, Saitama Prefecture
4. Matters Needing to be Addressed by Business Operators and Local Fire Departments, etc.

Special Feature 4.

The Promotion of Fire and Disaster Management Cooperation and Collaboration– Considering the Report of the 28th Fire and Disaster Management Council –1. The 28th Fire and Disaster Management Council
2. Main Recommendations of the Report
3. Response of the FDMA, Considering the Report

Special Feature 5.

Enhancing and Strengthening Regional Disaster Prevention Capabilities Centeredaround Volunteer Fire Corps

1. Current Status regarding Volunteer Fire Corps
2. Policies to Enhance and Strengthen Volunteer Fire Corps
3. Recent Activities of Volunteer Fire Corps, etc.

Special Feature 6.

Promotion of the Active Involvement of Female Firefighting Officials in Firefighting

1. Current Status regarding Female Firefighting Officials
2. Requests Considering the Content of Recommendations of the Review Committee
3. Initiatives for Promoting the Active Involvement of Female Firefighting Officials

Special Feature 7.

Measures to Respond to Harassment, etc., within Fire Departments

1. Current Status regarding Harassment, etc., within Fire Departments
2. Basic Approach to Eliminating Harassment, etc.
3. Responses that should be Implemented by Local Fire Departments
4. Responses that should be Implemented by Prefectures
5. Responses at the FDMA

Special Feature 8.

Enhancement of Ambulance Service Systems

1. Promotion of Measures to Meet the Demand for Ambulance Services
2. Acceleration of Awareness Raising and Education about First Aid
3. Response of Ambulance Services to Foreign Visitors

Special Feature 9.

Enhancement and Strengthening of Information Support Measures for the Elderly,
People with Disabilities, and Foreigners in Times of Disaster

1. Promotion of Initiatives Considering Social Conditions
2. Acceleration of the Dissemination of Individual Home Receivers for Emergency Municipal Radio
Communications
3. Fire Safety Measures which Consider the Elderly, People with Disabilities, and Foreign Visitors
4. Promotion of a Multilingual Response in the Work of the Ambulance Service

Special Feature 10. Issues with Information Transmission via the Nationwide Early Warning System(J-Alert), and Responses
1. What is the Nationwide Early Warning System (J-Alert)?
2. Response to the North Korean Situation
3. Issues with Information Transmission via J-Alert, and Responses

102017 White Paper on Fire Service- Contents (This Edition)
Chapter 1.
Section 1.
Section 2.
Section 3.
Section 4.
Section 5.
Section 6.
Section 7.
Section 8.
Chapter 2.

Current Status of and Challenges with Disasters
Fire Prevention
Disaster Countermeasures in Facilities that Handle Hazardous
Materials
Countermeasures for Disasters at Petrochemical Complexes
Countermeasures to Fires in Forests and Fields
Storm and Flood Countermeasures
Earthquake Countermeasures
Countermeasures for Nuclear Disasters
Countermeasures for Other Disasters
Fire and Disaster Prevention Organizations and Activities

Section 1.
Section 2.
Section 3.
Section 4.
Section 5.
Section 6.
Section 7.
Section 8.

Fire Service Systems
Extending Municipal Fire Services over a Wider Area
The Activities of Firefighting Personnel
Education and Training Structure
Ambulance Service Systems
Rescue Systems
Aerial Fire and Disaster Prevention System
Wide-area Firefighting / Rescue and Emergency Fire Response
Teams
Section 9. The Disaster Prevention Systems of National and Regional Public
Organizations
Section 10. Promoting the Computerization of Fire and Disaster Prevention

Chapter 3.

Responses for Public Safety

Chapter 4.

Voluntary Fire and Disaster Prevention Activities and Building
Communities that are Resistant to Disasters

Chapter 5.

Responding to International Challenges

Chapter 6.

Research and Development on Science and Technology for Fireand Disaster Prevention

Attached Materials

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