Osaka Municipal Fire Department
| 大阪市消防局 | |
 A medallion created in 1948 to symbolise the spirit of Osaka's firefighters. | |
| Operational area | |
|---|---|
| Country |  Japan |
| Prefecture | Osaka |
| City | Osaka City |
| Agency overview[1] | |
| Established | March 1948 |
| Annual calls | 232,420 (2016) |
| Employees | 3,484 (2016) |
| Staffing | Career |
| Facilities and equipment[1] | |
| Stations | 25 |
| Substations | 64 |
| Fire engines | 403 |
| Fireboats | 4 |
| Fire helicopters | 2 |
| Auxiliary vehicles | 52 |
| Transportable pumps | 738 |
| Website | |
| https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/shobo/index.html | |
The Osaka Municipal Fire Department (Japanese: 大阪市消防局, Hepburn: Ōsaka-shi Shōbōchō) is the fire department of Osaka City, Japan.
History and medallion
[edit]The first organized firefighting service in Osaka was established in 1634, when four hikeshi brigades were formed in the city, one professional and four volunteer; many of the members of the volunteer brigades worked in construction, as the primary way of preventing fire spreading in the dense wooden housing districts was to tear houses down to create firebreaks. However, in 1869 following the Meiji Restoration, 10 new professional fire brigades with around 500 firefighters between them were formed in the city; not long after however the local police took control of the fire brigade in 1880.[2]
During the Pacific War, Osaka was subjected to severe bombing raids, including firebombing; it is estimated that over 10,000 people were killed in these raids, with over 310,000 houses destroyed.[2]
Following the end of the war, firefighting in Japan was reorganised, creating the modern municipal fire department system; as a result, the Osaka Municipal Fire Department was created in 1948.[2]
The medallion that forms the modern logo of the OMFD was created in 1948, and has many constituent parts:[3]
- The shield shape represents the duty of the OMFD to protect the residents of Osaka and their property.
- The red border represents both fire and the burning devotion of Osaka firefighters.
- The blue background represents water as a tool of firefighting.
- The Miotsukushi (symbol of the City of Osaka) and wordmark (reading City of Osaka) represents the OMFD's devotion to upholding the authority of the city and fulfilling the trust placed in them by the people of Osaka.
Stations and apparatus
[edit]Fire stations form the basic subunits of the Osaka Municipal Fire Department (as is typical with Japanese fire departments), with each one being a self-contained command structure, while specialised functions such as Planning, Fire Prevention, and High Command are contained within the department Headquarters.[4] There are 25 fire stations across the city, with 64 substations/branch stations subordinate to the main stations.[1] The 25 fire stations are:[5]
- Kita
- Miyakojima
- Fukushima
- Konohana
- Chuo
- Nishi
- Minato
- Taisho
- Tennoji
- Naniwa
- Nishi-Yodogawa
- Yodogawa
- Higashi-Yodogawa
- Higashinari
- Ikuno
- Asahi
- Joto
- Tsurumi
- Abeno
- Suminoe
- Sumiyoshi
- Higashi-Sumiyoshi
- Hirano
- Nishinari
- Suijo
Notable incidents
[edit]- Tenroku gas explosion (1970) - A gas leak during construction at a metro station lead to a large explosion, killing 79 and injuring 420 others.
- Sennichi Department Store Building fire (1972) - A fire in a crowded department store killed 118 and injured 78 others.
- Osaka movie theatre fire (2008) - An arson attack on an adult video arcade killed 16 and injured 9 others.
- Nishi Umeda Clinic fire (2021) - A suspected arson attack on a psychiatric clinic killed 27 (including the suspect) and injured 1 other.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Fire-fighting activities of O.M.F.D (Outline)". Osaka Municipal Fire Department. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ a b c Kobayashi, Kyōichi (2022). "The History of Firefighting (Osaka and Kobe)" (PDF). International Fire Service Information Center. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ "Fire-fighting activities of O.M.F.D (Outline)". Osaka Metropolitan Fire Department. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ "The work performed by each of the sections and divisions the O.M.F.D". Osaka Municipal Fire Department. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ "Useful Information (List of telephone numbers)". Osaka Municipal Fire Department. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
External links
[edit]- Osaka Municipal Fire Department (English)
- Osaka Municipal Fire Department (Japanese)