High-Level Firefighting Technics
in Japan- a case in Tokyo -Today’s topics
1. What the Fire Service in Tokyo faces at
2. Command System
3. Task of Fire Pump Unit
4. Latest Firefighting Method
5. New Initiatives

1.

What the Fire Service in Tokyo faces at• Mass retirement of veterans• Decrease of fire scenes with significant features• Increase of junior officers who have less experience on sceneDecrease of numbers of fires

1.

Decrease of daily numbers of fires

Tokyo

1.

Fire resistant constructionis the most frequent source of the fire,
and the inclination has toned up steadily.

1.

Electrical equipment
is the most frequent cause of fires last 5 years
STATISTICAL FEATURES

The BIGGER
the size of construction as incapacity seats or total area is,the more FREQUENT
electrical equipment can be thecause of fire.

1.

Fire in warehouse
PRACTICAL FEATURES☑ Large amount of combustibles☑ Large and consecutive space☑ Large number of people possiblyleft behind☑ Inaccessibility to fire source

1.

- Takes quite long time for fire
extinguishment- Heavy toll of human lives

The most priority issue isto build up fire control capacity

1.

2.

Command System
Command Control Centre （Headquarter）
order(Fire Scene)(Fire Station)

Command Car( Battalion Commander )dispatchPumper
Rescue Truck
Ambulance
Aerial Ladder , etc…

( based on the dispatch plans )Dispatch plans

2.

Plan Title

Dispatch level

General Fire

1st – 4th

Fire on Highway

1st – 3rd

Hazardous Material Fire

1st – 3rd

Large-scale Fire

1st – 4thShip Fire

1stAircraft Fire

1st – 4th

Ambulance special task

1st – 4th

Rescue special task
Etc.

1st – 2nd

Scale of corps
according to each dispatch levelse.g.)

2.

General Fire 1st Level

Large-scale Fire 4th Level

Fire Pumper 6 – 8
Arial Ladder 1 – 2Ambulance
1Rescue Truck 1
Command car 1

Fire Pumper
50Command car 4
Arial Ladder
Recue truckas neededAmbulance

3.

Task of Fire Pump Unit
- On Fire Scene -FireSuppression

Search and Rescue☑Not only Rescue Task Forces take charge ofRescue Task Area
Every Fire pump units have it’s
own Rescue Task Areas while they
have regular jurisdiction.
They are commanded to be aRescue Task unit when fires
occurred in the assigned area,in addition to Rescue Truck unit.
Also the first arriving unit plays arole as a Rescue Task unit in caseof the assigned unit is delayed.

3.

Regular Jurisdiction
Rescue Task Area

Back up deployment unit is dispatched to the Engagement
jurisdiction area in preparation of another fire happens

Standby unit
(dispatched)(dispatched)Standby unit

Standby unit

(dispatched)Standby unit

Standby unit
(dispatched)

Emergency
deployment

Standby unit
Standby unit

Standby unit

3.

(dispatched)

Engagement jurisdiction

Non-engagement jurisdiction

4.

High Level Firefighting Technics

Fire fighting formation

andEffective fire controlBasic formation of 2 pumpers unit
Ø65mm Horse( up to 200m )

Ø75mm Suction Pipe

Ø50mm Horse( 20 – 60 m)

RELAY

Sender

Double Suction Pipe forpressureless water supply

4.

Leader

GN 0.5Mpa

Basic formation of solo pumper unit

Ø75mm Suction Pipe

Ø65mm Horse(up to 300m)

Ø50mm Horse( 20 – 60 m)

RELAY

Both function ofSender and Leader

Double Suction Pipe forpressureless water supply

4.

Branching
Metal Fitting

GN 0.5Mpa

Hose Car- vital equipment for RELAY-• Electric/Man Powered Mobility• Quick and Easy to extend hoses• Advantage in narrow area
• Carrier for equipment• Pedestal for water cannon• Equipped with “Sender” and“Solo unit”

4.

( A firefighter is extending hoses towards “Leader” pumper
from “Sender” pump by a hose car )～ after reaching the fire ～GENERAL REGIDENCE( fireproof construction )STRUCTURAL FEATURES• Rapid fire progression• High possibility of collapse• Leaping frame• Embers

4.

FEATURES on Firefighting operation• Encircle the fire building with spray guns
• Approach inside ASAP and spray the fire source• Caution for expanding fire to other buildings• High risk of flashover• Use of wide diameter nozzle at strong force of fire4.

Encircle the fire building

②③

4.

③①

Initial response by the first arriving unit
Important
information

Visible victim“My mother is inthe kitchen on
the first floor”

Fire progression level

Invisible victim

4.

The firstarrivingunitFormation of search and rescue

Sprayer 2

Approach ControllerLife ropeRescuer

4.

Sprayer 1

～ before approaching inside ～Confirm communication method in invisible situation• Radio• Buzzer Sign （attached with lighting equipment)• Rope Sign- Reconfirm the signs at every single scene –1. Detection of victims
2. Start rescuing victims out of fire
3. Emergency Escape4.

Beep!!

To make personal protection perfectConfirm the condition of all members

at every single approach into burning areas• check Alarm On• check Remaining Air• check PPE. Wore Perfect• check Physical and Mental Fatigue

4.

Perceive Risk Factor• Collapse• Falling• Electric shock• Hazardous materials• Flashover4.

Flashover
The flashover occurring during firefighting can cause injuries tofirefighters and victims when combustible materials ignite
instantaneously and the interior room temperature rises rapidly.

KEY FACTOR
4.

How to prepare against Flashover• AFT training• Research and experiments～conducted for the purpose of improving the safety of fire personnel
during water discharge, and the thermal environment in the fire compartment
where flashover occurred and the compartment from which the water was
being discharged was confirmed for each water discharge angle.
□diffused spray at 30°□diffused spray at 60□diffused spray at 90°□straight stream

4.

COMPLEX
STRUCTURAL FEATURES• Possibility of lots of people left inside• Acres of space to check• Full of smoke due to sealed structure• Emergency fire facilities

4.

FEATURES on Firefigting operation• Limited space and approach• Loss of radio communication• Ineffective spray due to internal
compartment• Spray techniques• Water damage• Smoke extraction• Long time operation

4.

Utilizing emergency fire facilities
Splinkler
Feed Water Inlet

Power Supply

4.

Connection Water
Supply Pipe

Control Panel

Elevator

Extension of water hoses
Fire operation space is quite limited atapproaching the fire source in a complex(Wall)
Clear Space➪ Efficient use of space is required(Floor)(Balcony)4.

Smoke extraction
Optimize operation area by adopting appropriate smoke
extraction according to the situation- need close communication among every active units- utilizing entrance and windows- set “intake air way” and “exhaust air way”
- allocate water nozzle as a caution for exhaust air way

4.

～ make a clear zone ～

open

close

open

G.L

4.

～ make a clear zone ～
close

open

4.

open

open

open

G.L

5.

New Initiatives“The First Aid Team” is the latest initiative to suitcurrent situation of our society.

-A pair of 2 electric tricycles and crews
Equipped with AED and fire suppression equipment

Background for launching the new team
☑ Aging society☑ Increase of emergency requests☑ Traffic problems

TIMELABOR

The most priority is to make “ first touch on scene” much quicker andmore efficient- Disaster prevention and mitigation in narrow area
- First medical aid on the very early stage

5.

- Give a hand to elderly in daily incidents

In disaster scenes
Quick access to the disaster scenes where fire pumper and ambulance hardly
approach due to limited space of route.
case of firecase of sudden illness and injuries

5.

On other requests
The first aid team corresponds in place of fire pumper
case of Automated 119 call due to fire alarm activatedcase of daily trouble for elderly

5.

Standby for otherincident

Thank you for listening !