HISTORY OF FIRE BRIGADE

　The history of Fire Brigade dates back to EDO era. The then 8th Shogunate TOKUGAWA YOSHIMUNE ordered OOKA ECHIZENNOKAMI, the then Magistrate of Edo Minami-Machi, to make an organized system. He reorganized TANABIKESHI to become MACHIBIKESHI(IROHA-48-TEAMS). It is said that this was the predecessor of the present-day Fire Brigade.

　Taking advantage of the reorganization of the local system, the rules of Fire Squad was enacted in the 27th year of Meiji(1894),and Fire Squad was placed under the control of the governor of each prefecture for the purpose of nationwide unification.Concretely speaking, it was decided that Fire Squad was to be established under the official power of each prefectural governor. The Fire Squad that existed at that time was officially acknowledged.While Fire Squad was under the command of the governor’s police power, it was ruled that all necessary expenses were to be borne by cities,towns and villages.
　In order to be reformed into a government ordinance, a new law of Fire Brigade was proclaimed on March 24, 1948(23rd year of Showa).The founding of Fire Brigade changed from compulsory to voluntary. The directing and supervising authority over Fire Brigade was transferred from Police Department-Head or the Head of Fire Station to City mayors,Town mayors and village mayors.

　Each member of the Fire Brigade has his own regular job.Fire Brigade is based on the spirit “LET’S PROTECT OUR TOWN BY OURSELVES”. It is a gathering of peaple who is willing to work for protecting safety and security of their town. At present,it belongs to the fire organization of each city, town and village and it is located in almost all these places.

HOW TO COPE WITH MAJOR DISASTERS

　In order to cope with large-scale disaster, the disaster prevention measures are required on governmental basis. It is also required that the regional public body should participate in it so that the regional disaster prevention ability can be strengthened. The greater the disaster is, the disaster prevention bodies themselves will suffer damages. We can easily conceive that it will affect the disaster prevention measures as well. The rescue and relife operations can be quickly carried out, but it would require time to do it in wider area. It is important that the residents play a leading role immediately after the disaster occurs.After that, firefighters, police and self-defence forces will come in to do their job in full scale. From the standpoint of disaster prevention, the local residents, in close contact with Firefighters Headquarters, Fire Stations and Fire Brigades, should work with them as one. 
　Fire Brigade is located in almost all cities, towns and villages and they have a system which has a long history. They have sufficient trainings in disaster prevention, so they can take a leadership in each area in order to orientate self-disaster-prevention system and, to the residents,they can coach drills and spread knowledge of disaster prevention.

FIRE BRIGADE,MAKING USE OF CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS AND　ABILITY TO MOBILIZE NEEDED MANPOWER,PLAYS ACTIVE ROLE IN LARGE SCALE DISASTERS.

(1)Importance of Fire Brigade. In Hanshin and Awaji great earthquake, Fire Brigades were engaged in a wide range activities such as firefighting,searching the rescue-needed persons,rescue work, water supply, guarding dangerous places.The Fire Defence Board, in December in the 3rd year of Heisei(1991), carried out investigations into all cities, towns and villages across the country which had Fire Brigades. The result of this survey shows that 90% of cities, towns and villages conclude Fire Brigades are very important in their existence.  

(2)Present condition of Fire Brigade. In line with the large-scale change in local communuty,working structure and people’s awareness,the member of Fire Brigade are on the decrease in the depopulated areas. The young people,who are supposed to participate in Fire Brigade, are also decreasing.In and around large cities,people’s sense of belonging to local community is thinning out, and, as a result,the residents, who are not familiar with existing local activities,are increasing. 

TOSHIMA FIRE BRIGADE TEAM NO.7

　The members of Fire Brigade are completely separated from the employees of Fire Station.
　Fire Brigade member has his own regular job while Fire Station employees are exclusive public servants.　We are working with both of them hand in hand in disaster prevention activities. Toshima-ku is located in the north of Tokyo. There are two Fire Brigades in Toshima-ku.