Kyoto City Fire Department
| 京都市消防局 | |
 | |
| Operational area | |
|---|---|
| Country |  Japan |
| Prefecture | Kyoto |
| City | Kyoto City |
| Agency overview[1] | |
| Employees | ≈1,800 (2024) |
| Staffing | Career |
| Facilities and equipment[1] | |
| Stations | 11 |
| Substations | 1 |
| Branch Stations | 35 |
| Vehicles | ≈300 |
| Website | |
| https://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/shobo/ | |
The Kyoto City Fire Department (Japanese: 京都市消防局, Hepburn: Kyōto-shi Shōbōchō) is the fire department of Kyoto City, Japan.
History
[edit]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 brigade was largely concerned with protecting the property of the emperor, such as the Imperial Palace, from fire, whereas the private fire brigades were hired by civic organizations in local neighbourhoods to engage in general firefighting.
These private brigades were replaced in 1722 when a volunteer fire service was established by the town government, with the public fire 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.
Where other nations were subject to intense firebombing during the Pacific War, Kyoto was largely spared due to its historic 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.[2]
Stations and apparatus
[edit]Fire stations form the basic subunits of the Kyoto City 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.[1] There are 11 fire stations across the city, with 35 branch stations and 1 substation subordinate to the main stations. The 11 fire stations are:[3]
- Kita
- Kamigyo
- Sakyo
- Nakagyo
- Higashiyama
- Yamashina
- Shimogyo
- Minami
- Ukyo
- Nishikyo
- Fushimi
Notable incidents
[edit]- Kyoto Animation arson attack (2019) - An arson attack on an animation studio killed 36 and injured 34 others, including the perpetrator.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Outline of Kyoto City Fire Department" (PDF). Kyoto City Fire Department. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ Kobayashi, Kyōichi (2022). "The History of Firefighting (Nagoya and Kyoto)" (PDF). International Fire Service Information Center. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ "Fire Stations in the City". Kyoto City Fire Department. 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2024-12-12.