The Tokyo Fire Department Kojimachi Fire Station fire-drill review was held on the 22nd at Kitanomaru Park Parking Lot No. 3 (1-1 Kitanomaru-koen, Chiyoda-ku). Palaceside Building’s Mainichi Building Volunteer Fire Corps also took part.
Fire spreads in a rush once time passes, so first extinguishing within a set time is the key to stopping it. That is when the volunteer corps steps in.
To raise the skill of volunteer units at large workplaces that carry that weight, each fire station holds a review every year. This time 41 teams joined five groups: men’s A and B, women’s, and security A and B. The scenario was an earthquake with injuries and a fire. Teams of three were tested on how quickly and accurately they could run the sequence from body protection
and aiding the injured through discovering the fire, reporting, and pulling hose from an indoor hydrant to spray water.
Judging is strict. As in the diagram at right, even “basic movement” at assembly is fixed: feet opened 60 degrees at attention, 25 centimeters between heels at rest (20 for women)—and checked severely.
The Mainichi Building Volunteer Fire Corps showed everyday training as one of seven teams in security group B. In fact our team was runner-up five years ago and champion four years ago; this time we were close but finished a narrow fourth, just missing a podium.
At Palaceside Building we train through the New Year’s first-departure ceremony and spring and autumn comprehensive drills, with tenants taking part. This day’s review again drove home the importance of everyday readiness.