Kyoto City Fire Department
The Kyoto City Fire Department is the fire department of Kyoto City, Japan. Formed in 1948 during the post-war reorganisation of Japan's government, the KCFD is today the sixth-largest fire department in Japan by number of firefighters, operating out of their headquarters in Nakagyō Ward and their 47 fire stations and branch stations spread across the city.
In the 2023 financial year, the KCFD responded to 220 fires, 103,059 calls for emergency medical services, 1,317 technical rescue operations, and 823 other emergency calls, as well as 6,918 false alarm callouts, and 3,644 malicious callouts.
Kyoto is a very safe city in terms of fire; in 2022, it had the lowest rate of fire of any major city in Japan. Unique challenges are posed to firefighters in the city by the need to preserve important cultural properties during fire and rescue operations, with volunteer firefighters and community groups being widely employed to fulfil this salvage requirement.
History
The date of creation of the first firefighting organization in Kyoto is not known, but by the 17th century a dual system of public and private brigades had come into being. The public buke bikeshi samurai fire brigade was largely concerned with protecting the property of the emperor, such as the Imperial Palace, from fire, whereas the private tana bikeshi brigades were hired by civic organizations in local neighbourhoods to engage in general firefighting.These private brigades were replaced in 1722 when a volunteer machi bikeshi service was established by the town government, with the samurai brigade also coming under the command of the town government in 1779. In 1868 following the Meiji Restoration, the fire services of Kyoto were absorbed into the local police, as part of the consolidation of power that drove the police service during this time. In Kyoto, this led to the establishment of 7 fire stations by the year 1894, staffed by 619 police-firefighters.
While most other Japanese cities were subject to intense firebombing during the Pacific War, Kyoto was spared due to its historical and cultural value. Following the end of the war, firefighting in Japan was reorganised, creating the modern municipal fire department system; as a result, the Kyoto City Fire Department was created in 1948.
Stations and apparatus
As is typical with Japanese fire departments, the KCFD is split into stations, with one station covering each of Kyoto's 11 wards, each consisting of a large main station building as well as several branch stations throughout the ward. The 11 stations and 1 substation are:In addition to its 11 stations and 1 substation, the KCFD also operates an aviation unit from its helipad in Fushimi.
Notable incidents
As well as contributing to national and international emergencies through participation in the national Emergency Fire Rescue Teams and the International Rescue Team of the Japan Fire Service, the KCFD has tackled various notable emergencies within Kyoto, including:- Kinkaku-ji arson attack - An arson attack by an aggrieved monk led to the destruction of the famous Kinkaku-ji Temple.
- Kyoto Animation arson attack - An arson attack on an animation studio killed 36 and injured 34 others, including the perpetrator.