No.10 Viewing the Fire Brigade Firefighting Skills Examination

(Inagi Newsletter August 15, 2012 issue)

On Sunday, July 15, 2012, a review meeting was held at the North Green Space Park parking lot.
"The fire point is the target in front, the water source is the water tank behind the right side of the pump truck, extend a double-wrapped hose line with a wide spread, board the vehicle!" With a loud voice from the commander and a sense of urgency, the four team members swiftly begin firefighting activities.
Firefighting drills are procedures that ensure a command and control system at a chaotic fire scene filled with crowds and noise, allowing for accurate operations through repeated practice of a series of operational methods until they are ingrained in the body. While some areas use portable pumps, Inagi City conducts pump vehicle drills using fire engine pumps. These drills used to be held annually, but now they are conducted every other year.
The term of office for fire brigade members is two years, and this year is a year for re-election. Each division is welcoming many new members, which brings vitality, but it is also a time when practical experience is lacking. Therefore, starting training immediately after the member re-election in April is very important for ensuring the safety of new members.
This review meeting marks the 27th session since the first one was held in 1971. Many predecessors have overcome rigorous training to improve their technical standards. The firefighting techniques of Inagi City have evolved with each session and are now at a level that can achieve high rankings in the Tokyo Firefighting Techniques Competition.
In this review meeting, the fifth division (Sakahama) won the championship, achieving back-to-back victories, and their performance was impressive based on last year's experience in the Tokyo tournament. I have heard that the divisions ranked below second also showcased excellent skills with remarkable precision, and the scoring results were very close.
It was a day that made me proud as an OB to see the young members firmly inheriting the good traditions of the Inagi City Fire Brigade, which is disciplined, brave, and has high morale.
Thank you for your hard work, everyone in the group, and for the inspiration!