And More Aviation Fire Services The Aviation Unit operates 24 hours a day at Koto Aviation Center and Tama Aviation Center with eight helicopters (four large and four medium size helicopters), rescue trucks, fire engines, and ambulances. In January 2016, the Air Fire Rescue Task Forces (Air Hyper Rescue) was organized within the Aviation Unit to respond more quickly to rescue and emergency medical calls. The Aviation Unit also responds with doctors on board of the helicopters to transport patients from mountain and island areas while the doctor gives medical treatment on board. When a large scale disaster occurs outside the TFD s service area, the helicopter team is dispatched as the International Rescue Team (for overseas disasters) or the Emergency Fire Response Team (for domestic disasters) for rescue, EMS, firefighting, transport, and fact finding activities. With regard to overseas response, the Aviation Unit has operated in Bangladesh (for a cyclone), Indonesia (for a forest fire), and Sumatra/Indonesia (for tsunami). Number of Responses 1,515 Number of Responses by Emergency Type Fire 35 2% Drill 35 2% Education 54 4% Rescue 48 3% Investigation 24 2% Test 244 16% PR 6 0% EMS 391 26% Others 39 3% Training 639 42% TFD Helicopters Name Aircraft Type Emergency Fire Response Team Year of Introduction Chidori AW139 2017 Kamome Tsubame Otaka* AS365N3 Dauphin II AS365N3 Dauphin II AS365N3 Dauphin II 2009 2010 2006 Name Hibari Aircraft Type AS332L1 Super Puma Year of Introduction 2001 Yurikamome EC225LP 2008 Konotori EC225LP 2014 Hakucho EC225LP 2014 *Otaka is owned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications The Emergency Fire Response Team is organized upon request or order from Commissioner of the Fire and Disaster Management Agency to respond to large scale or unusual disasters which cannot be dealt with by the local fire services alone. In 2016, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government received two -35-
dispatch requests, and the TFD sent its helicopters and members to the disaster scenes. Kumamoto Earthquake On April 14, 2016, at 9:26 PM, an intensity 7 earthquake occurred in Mashiki, Kumamoto and caused a devastating damage. On April 16, 2016, at 1:25 AM, another intensity 7 earthquake hit the same area with continual aftershocks. According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency (as of April 13, 2017), 228 people were killed and 15 fires broke out. <Operations> On April 16, 2016, at 4:38 AM, Tokyo Governor received a dispatch request from FDMA Commissioner, and according to the request, the TFD sent its fire helicopter to Kumamoto. Fact finding operations In Kumamoto, the fire helicopter engaged in fact finding activities with the satellite communication system (Heli-Sat System). It completed the mission on April 17 and returned to Tokyo on the same day. <Timeline> April 14 9: 26 PM 1:25 AM 4:38 AM April 16 6:50 AM 1:55 PM 12:45 PM April 17 5:45 PM An intensity 7 earthquake occurred. Another intensity 7 earthquake occurred. TMG received a dispatch request from FDMA. Fire helicopter, Otaka, departed the Tama Aviation Center. Otaka landed at Kumamoto Airport and started operations. Otaka completed operations and departed Kumamoto Airport. Otaka landed at the Tama Aviation Center. A meeting with Kumamoto aviation units Iwate Typhoon On August 30, 2016, at around 6 PM, a large, violent typhoon passed near Ofunato, Iwate. In the Hokkaido and Tohoku areas where the 10th Typhoon was passing through, 27 people were missing or killed and 513 buildings were destroyed. <Operations> On August 31, 2016, at 11:45 AM, Tokyo Governor received a dispatch request from FDMA Commissioner, and according to the request, the TFD sent one command support team and one fire Fact finding in damaged Iwaizumi area -36-
helicopter to Iwaizumi, Iwate. The TFD members joined the local fire services and engaged in command support and fact finding activities using the Heli-Sat System. In total, 2 fire helicopters and 19 firefighters from the TFD had operated in Iwate for 10 days. <Timeline> 10:45 AM Aug. 31 2:38 PM 5:00 PM Sep. 2 10:45 AM 10:55 AM Sep. 5 6:10 PM 12:00 PM Sep. 9 12:25 PM TMG received a dispatch request from FDMA. Fire helicopter, Otaka left for Iwate with a command support team. Otaka landed at Hanamaki Airport and started operations. The command support team arrived at Miyako Fire Headquarters and started operations. The second command support team and the second helicopter team left for Iwate. The third command support team left for Iwate. Otaka completed operations and departed Hanamaki Airport. Command support teams completed operations. Command support teams left Iwate. The command support team at Iwaizumi fire station Heavy vehicles for a search mission Maritime Fire Services The importance of Tokyo Bay, a maritime entrance to Tokyo, has been increasing. As a logistic hub for the 40 million residents and business professionals in the Kanto area, the bay area is now developing with new port facilities and along with capital area projects. Moreover, the bay area will play a key role in the field of tourism. A new cruise ship pier is under construction to accommodate the increasing number of cruise population, and other tourism and recreation related projects are also proceeding to attract more people to the area. Furthermore, as Tokyo hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020, the neighboring areas will further develop, and the number of inbound ships to Tokyo Bay is expected to rise. The TFD deploys a total of nine fireboats to Rinko, Takanawa, and Nihonbashi Fire Stations to protect the safety of the environmentally and structurally changing Tokyo Bay. Number of Maritime Responses 1,322 Number of Maritime Responses by Emergency Type Fire 47 Other Emergencies 327 Training etc. 948 TFD Fireboats Name Miyakodori Ariake Kachidoki Sumida Harumi Kiyosu Hamakaze Shibuki Hayate Size 195 t 40 t 40 t 39 t 11 t 9.7 t 9.7 t 4.9 t 4.8 t -37-
A fire helicopter Miyakodori Fire Technology and Safety Laboratory The Fire Technology and Safety Laboratory specializes in technological development and conducts scientific tests for firefighters and public fire safety. When necessary, the science team responds to incident scenes to give advice on operational and safety issues from a scientific standpoint. A research on the effect of long period earthquakes A research on hazardous materials A research on effective water spraying to indoor fires A research on the effective rest during firefighting Operational support at an incident scene -38-
Maintenance Shop Established in 1921, the Maintenance Shop maintains and repairs the fire vehicles and tools to keep them in the best condition. The maintenance team operates 24 hours a day working in the factory size garage and responding to incident scenes and fire stations to solve mechanical problems as quickly as possible. The Maintenance Shop has an important role in the TFD with their huge contribution to smooth and prompt fire operations. Inside of the maintenance shop A lecture from a senior technician Fire Academy The Fire Academy provides education for both new firefighters and experienced firefighters to improve their skills and knowledge. The courses provided in the Academy are those of firefighting, vehicle operations, paramedics, operational command, fire prevention, management, accounting, information technologies, among others. Firefighters need to develop their advanced and specialist skills to satisfy public expectations. Number of Course Participants in Fire Academy 5,553 A firefighting class -39-
Number of Course Participants in Fire Academy by Course Category Others 1838 33% Chief Courses 1453 26% Manager Courses 496 9% Freshman Courses 866 16% Specialist Courses 880 16% TFD Band and Color Guard The TFD Band was organized in 1949 as the first fire department s music band in Japan. The Band performs more than 200 times a year to promote fire prevention and disaster preparedness. The TFD Color Guard consisting of women firefighters and administrators was organized in 1986. The Guard often travels with the TFD Band and adds colorful flag performances to the music. Number of Performances Number of Audience 257 469,185 Number of Performances by Event Type Number of Audience by Event Type TMG Events 35 13% Government Events 35 14% Public Events 71 28% TFD Events 116 45% Government Events 33,750 TMG Events 7% 39,430 8% TFD Events 41,505 9% Public Events 354,500 76% -40-
Fire Museum The Fire Museum exhibits historical documents, photos, vehicles, clothes, tools, and other fire service related items to draw the visitors interest which leads to their fire safety and disaster preparedness awareness. In 2016, the Fire Museum received the Certificate of Excellence again following the previous year s receipt, and the number of visitors rose to a record high of 212,932, including more than 10,000 overseas visitors. Number of Visitors 212,932 Number of Overseas Visitors More than 10,000 Fire The TFD has 1,974 fire vehicles and they are deployed as follows: 1st Fire District (Chiyoda-ku, Chuo-ku, Minato-ku) Fire Stations (10) Marunouchi, Kojimachi, Kanda, Kyobashi, Nihonbashi, Rinko, Shiba, Azabu, Akasaka, Takanawa Fire Engines 38 Ladder Trucks 13 Chemical Fire Engines 4 Fireboats 9 Ambulances 14 Rescue Trucks 2 Fire Motorcycles 2 2nd Fire District (Shinagawa-ku, Ota-ku) Fire Stations (7) Shinagawa, Oi, Ebara, Omori, Denenchofu, Kamata, Yaguchi Fire Rescue Task Forces (1) 2nd District Fire Rescue Task Forces Fire Engines 45 Ladder Trucks 7 Chemical Fire Engines 6 Ambulances 21 Rescue Trucks 1 Water Rescue Trucks 1 Fire Motorcycles 2 Fire Engines 1 Chemical Fire Engines 1 Rescue Trucks 1 Rescue Trucks (Earthquake) 1 Heavy (Rescue) 1 Heavy 1-41-
3rd Fire District (Shibuya-ku, Setagaya-ku, Meguro-ku) Fire Stations (5) Meguro, Setagaya, Tamagawa, Seijo, Shibuya Fire Rescue Task Forces (1) 3rd District Fire Rescue Task Forces Fire Engines 42 Ladder Trucks 5 Chemical Fire Engines 1 Ambulances 22 Rescue Trucks 2 Fire Motorcycles 4 Fire Engines 1 Rescue Trucks 1 Special Incident Trucks 3 4th Fire District (Shinjuku-ku, Nakano-ku, Suginami-ku) Fire Stations (7) Yotsuya, Ushigome, Shinjuku, Nakano, Nogata, Suginami, Ogikubo Fire Engines 51 Ladder Trucks 8 Chemical Fire Engines 2 Ambulances 26 Rescue Trucks 2 5th Fire District (Bunkyo-ku, Toshima-ku, Kita-ku) Fire Stations (7) Koishikawa, Hongo, Toshima, Ikebukuro, Oji, Akabane, Takinogawa Fire Engines 40 Ladder Trucks 7 Chemical Fire Engines 2 Ambulances 16 Rescue Trucks 1 Fire Motorcycles 2 6th Fire District (Taito-ku, Arakawa-ku, Adachi-ku) Fire Stations (8) Ueno, Asakusa, Nihonzutsumi, Arakawa, Ogu, Senju, Adachi, Nishiarai Fire Rescue Task Forces (1) 6th District Fire Rescue Task Forces Fire Engines 48 Ladder Trucks 8 Chemical Fire Engines 4 Ambulances 24 Rescue Trucks 2 Water Rescue Trucks 1 Fire Motorcycles 2 Fire Engines 1 Chemical Fire Engine 1 Rescue Trucks 1 Rescue Trucks (Earthquake) 1-42-
Special Rescue Trucks 1 Heavy (Rescue) 2 Heavy 2 7th Fire District (Koto-ku, Sumida-ku, Katsushika-ku, Edogawa-ku) Fire Stations (9) Fire Engines 57 Ladder Trucks 10 Chemical Fire Engines 11 Honjo, Mukojima, Fukagawa, Joto, Honden, Ambulances 36 Kanamahci, Edogawa, Kasai, Koiwa Rescue Trucks 4 Water Rescue Trucks 1 Fire Motorcycles 4 8th Fire District (North Tama Area) Fire Stations (15) Tachikawa, Musashino, Mitaka, Fuchu, Akishima, Chofu, Koganei, Kodaira, Higashimurayama, Kokubunnji, Komae, Kitatamaseibu, Kiyose, Higashikurume, Nishitokyo Fire Rescue Task Forces (1) 8th District Fire Rescue Task Forces Fire Engines 83 Ladder Trucks 15 Chemical Fire Engines 5 Ambulances 40 Rescue Trucks 3 Water Rescue Trucks 1 Special Incident Trucks 2 Chemical Fire Engine 1 Rescue Trucks 1 Rescue Trucks (Earthquake) 1 Small Rescue Trucks 2 Special Incident Trucks 1 Heavy (Rescue) 2 Heavy 2 9th Fire District (West and South Tama Areas) Fire Stations (8) Fire Engines 48 Ladder Trucks 8 Chemical Fire Engines 6 Hachioji, Ome, Machida, Hino, Fussa, Tama, Ambulances 32 Akigawa, Okutama Rescue Trucks 4 Mountain Rescue Trucks 5 Fire Motorcycles 4 Fire Rescue Task Forces (1) 9th District Fire Rescue Task Forces Fire Engines 1-43-
Rescue Trucks (Earthquake) 1 Special Incident Trucks 3 Heavy (Rescue) 2 10th Fire District (Nerima-ku, Itabashi-ku) Fire Stations (5) Itabashi, Shimura, Nerima, Hikarigaoka, Shakujii Fire Engines 32 Ladder Trucks 5 Chemical Fire Engines 4 Ambulances 18 Rescue Trucks 3 Air Fire Rescue Task Forces Fire Engines 1 Rescue Trucks 1 Fire Helicopters 7 Mobility Ambulance Units Ambulances 2 Fire Fire Engine is a semi-box type vehicle with a high load capacity. It carries two hose carts including one automatic hose cart. -44-
Fire Engine with Water Tank operates near the point of fire to spray water quickly and early. It is equipped with a 2,000 liter water tank and carries a light weight hose cart. Chemical Fire Engine responds to hazardous material fires. It is equipped with a 1,500 liter water tank, a 150 liter chemical foam tank, and a foam nozzle. Small Fire Engine with Hose Cart responds to narrow streets. It carries a light weight hose cart. Mountain Rescue Truck responds to mountain areas. It is equipped with an electric winch on the front and a roof rack to carry a basket stretcher. -45-
Ladder Truck responds to high rise building fires. It is equipped with a 30 meter ladder, a basket (maximum 2,700 N), an elastic water pipe, and a remote control nozzle. Rescue Truck (Type II) responds to traffic accidents. It is equipped with a winch, an electricity generator, and flood lights. Ambulance has an operational space inside where the attendants can give a patient first aid. It carries stretchers and is equipped with a vibration-free stand. Special Ambulance transports a patient with an infectious disease while giving the person first aid. There is a high airtight wall and negative air pressure system between the driver s room and the patient s room. Contaminated air is sterilized before released to the outside. It carries a heavy weight stretcher and a vibration-free stand. -46-
Fire Motorcycle quickly responds to highways and mountain areas. It carries a portable fire extinguisher and simple rescue tools. Fireboat (Ariake) is a chemical fireboat responding to bay areas and rivers. It is equipped with four water guns that can shoot water of more than 30,000 liter per minute. Fire Helicopter engages in firefighting, rescue, fact finding, and patient transport activities. The auto hovering system and the earthquake damage locating system are built in, and it is equipped with a 1,800 liter water tank. Photo Gallery Firefighters responding with a fire helicopter Flooding water extraction -47-
Rescue operations at a riverbank 2nd Mobility Ambulance Unit responding to a call Water spraying and white smoke Prevention of fire spread First aid in a house First aid in a traffic accident -48-
Patient transport by stretcher Triage drill Fire inspection Emergency Telephone Consultation Center Specialist unit in a CBRN incident Demonstration in the Fire Prevention Campaign Rescue drill with overseas fire services Rescue operations -49-