Ⅸ. National Fire Fighting
I. Fire Fighting Structure
The National Fire Agency is responsible for planning and implementing
domestic fire fighting administrative functions and also disaster prevention. It in
addition unifies command activities and carries out fire fighting and disaster
prevention operations. Currently this organization has 9 divisions, 1 center and 4
offices in charge of associated operations and administrations in addition to
specialized search and rescue teams and training centers. There are four harbor fire
departments located in Keelung, Taichung, Kaohsiung and Hualien, under the
command of the National Fire Fighting Agency, responsible for harbor fire fighting
and disaster prevention.
II. Disaster Management
1. Revision of the Disaster Prevention and Rescue Act
The ROC Disaster Prevention and Rescue Act has been in effect for more
than four years since its initial promulgation in 2000. Therefore, by adopting
various advanced concepts of the United States and Japan, and also the lessons
and experiences learned from disaster rescue operations, the revised draft of the
Disaster Prevention and Rescue Act was proposed, including the following
modifications:
(1) Integration of disaster prevention and rescue organizations.
(2) Regarding stabilizing funding sources: Establishment of a debt-raising pool
for recovery and rebuilding outside the parameters of the Public Debt Law.
(3) Clarification of the simplification mechanism for administrative procedures.
(4) Specifying that all related disaster prevention and rescue authorities should
draw up specific disaster prevention and rescue plans.
(5) Authorize the Ministry of the Interior to enumerate particular types of natural
disasters with which we will provide aid and the exact nature of the relief to
be dispensed.
2. Reinforcing Central and Local Government Disaster Reporting Mechanisms
When there is an actual or potential occurrence of a major disaster, depending
on the actual situations and losses caused, governments at all tiers should
organize crisis response centers and disaster response teams to implement
emergency response measures. If the disaster situation is beyond the capabilities
of local governments to handle, requests can be made to central government for
support or the central government may take appropriate coordinative and
supportive actions, in order effect joint disaster response activities. Meanwhile,
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the administrative organizations at each governmental level are to deploy
various disaster response and reporting operations according to germane
longitudinal and lateral disaster emergency reporting functions and
communication mechanisms established in “The Operation Regulations for
Disaster Emergency Reporting”, as announced by the Executive Yuan.
3. Construction of Disaster Rescue Resource Database
Collecting disaster rescue resource data from all local governments and
related central authorities, and integrating various disaster rescue resource
databases.
4. Strengthening and Promoting Effectiveness of Disaster Response Mechanisms
In order coordinate with the National Disaster Response Center, the National
Fire Agency will immediately activate the appropriate emergency response
mechanisms and integrate the relevant disaster rescue resources of the Central
Weather Bureau, Council of Agriculture, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and
National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction in order to
provide all apposite information regarding potential areas of floods, mud flows
and earthquakes. This Center shall also analyze and render judgments on all
possible disasters and the response measures that must be taken. This office will
perform these functions in order to enable local governments quickly to react
forcibly to implement all necessary evacuation and relocation measures.
5. Implementation of Division and Control of Alerts in Danger-Prone Areas
Each local government shall maintain current files of any potential dangerous
or vulnerable areas that may be subjected to floods, land slides, mud flows or
other disasters, so when there is an actual or potential disaster, these controlled
areas can be immediately set up and to liaise with relevant coastguard and police
forces immediately and forcefully to dispatch all necessary rescue personnel.
In 2004, we implemented a nation-wide investigation concerning dangerous
areas with 4,338 locations appropriately documented.
6. Enhancing Preparedness of Disaster Prevention Activities during Flood and
Typhoon Seasons
We convened a seminar on disaster prevention and rescue readiness before
flooding and typhoon seasons, hoping that all prevention and preparedness
efforts were in place before typhoon season in order to minimize losses caused
by these disasters.
7. Developing Research Projects Relevant to “The Second Stage National Science
& Technology Program for Hazard Mitigation”
In 2004, “The Second Stage National Science & Technology Program for
Hazard Mitigation” was carried out. The research results were applied to disaster
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prevention and rescue, and the study reports were submitted to central
authorities, academic and research institutes of disaster prevention for important
reference of future promotion of disaster prevention and rescue.
8. Implementing Promotion of Disaster Prevention Education
(1) We are using television, broadcast, planes and the Internet as multi-faceted
channels in our educational programs.
(2) The National Fire Agency cooperated with the Taiwan Television Company to
film such fire fighting TV programs as “In the Line of Fire”. Our purpose here
was to enhance citizen’s awareness of the concept of disaster prevention by
encouraging the development of disaster prevention knowledge contained
within this film. We also shot many short promotional films including the
three short efforts regarding typhoon and earthquake damage prevention and
arson control.
(3) Production of various sorts of disaster prevention promotional posters to be
distributed to all municipal city, county and city fire departments. We also
publish these posters in media such as newspapers and magazines.
(4) Planning and production of “Household Disaster Prevention Manual”, the
contents of which are designed and edited with life-like images to promote
correct disaster prevention knowledge and also ways to respond to
catastrophes that people face frequently. We refer in this case to fires, gas
accidents, earthquakes and typhoons.
(5) We have selected “earthquake” and “fire” as our two major topics and have
further designated twenty categories of teaching materials. We also
commenced demonstration sessions in three selected elementary schools
located in urban, rural and disaster areas. We are developing disaster
prevention teaching programs through the elementary education medium.
(6) The Fire Fighting Monthly publication was established to extend the concepts
and effects of disaster prevention promotion. We include information relating
to disaster prevention knowledge and promotion in this magazine, which is
mailed to the public libraries nationwide for people to read. Our hope is that
the effects of this publicity may eventually reach every family and community
throughout the ROC.
(7) With the arrival of the Internet audio and video era, we have established the
NFA E-paper and Fire Fighting E-news. This E-paper is issued every
Thursday and had published 88 issues up to Dec. 31, 2003 with a circulation
reaching more than 16,000. The E-News is growing at a rate of 20 issues per
week and currently has accumulated approximately 2,000 archived items. It
is currently the most real-time and abundant database of fire-fighting
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audio-video news.
9. Promoting Incident Command System (ICS)
We planned and developed an “ICS Trial Program” in order to establish
operational standards for incident scene commands, to integrate disaster rescue
resources and to improve response effectiveness with the Fire Departments of
Taipei City and Taipei County Governments chosen to be trial agencies. We
specifically developed teaching materials contents for this ICS module in order
to provide advice relevant to revisions, to review the contents of each chapter in
the drafted ICS on-scene operations manual and to discuss trial agencies staffing
status for applications to develop this trial program.
10. Execution of Disaster Prevention and Rescue for National Disasters Prevention
and Protection Commission
(1) Review and revision of disaster prevention and rescue operation plans and
the appraisal of reinforcement materials before submission to Central
Disaster Prevention and Protection Board for implementation approval.
(2) Assisting special municipal, county and city governments in strengthening
local disaster prevention and rescue operation plans.
(3) Organizing 2004 “National Disaster Prevention Day of Earthquake
Prevention and Rescue Exercise”.
(4) Implementing interviews and assessments of disaster prevention and rescue
efforts: With this point in mind, we have provided appropriate advice
concerning improvements to each county and the chief authorities within
these jurisdictions have been requested to incorporate our advice into future
policies and action plan implementations in order to elevate the execution
implementation proficiency of disaster prevention and rescue operations.
(5) Establishment of disaster and emergency reporting mechanisms for rapid and
efficient communications when disasters happen.
(6) Assisting commanders in charge of decision making by completing a
resolution and support information system for the Central Disaster Response
Center and also integration of the establishment of static and dynamic
networks developed by all related government branches and public utility
organizations to expedite inquiries and applications for information
concerning flood potential, debris flow potential, typhoons, precipitation,
damaging winds and other dangerous weather conditions.
(7) Edit the “White Paper of Public Safety Management”
Examining the classification of major disasters and the contents of standard
operational procedures for each of these safety protocols so as to match
international standards, to express the determination of our government
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concerning major public safety issues and to establish effective disaster
prevention and rescue mechanisms: The National Disasters Prevention and
Protection Commission has published its Implementation Plan for the White
Paper on Public Safety Management. This plan has delineated 126 provisions
relevant to implementation policies, and also to key measures in charge of
assistance positions and schedule control for the management of 16 major
disasters. Our intent in this case is to supervise all relevant branches of
government, which carry out subsequent policies.
III. Fire Prevention
1. Promotion of Fire Safety Management Systems
We have collated various observations of “The Exercise and Verification of
Self-defense Fire Fighting Task Forces in Multi-Purpose High-Rise Buildings”.
In addition we have also organized and instituted “The Training Operation Plan
for Duty Staff in Emergency Response Centers” and “The Reviewing and
Improvement Plan for Structural and Fire Fighting Safety in High Buildings”.
There are currently 35,229 publicly accessible buildings that must comply with
our fire safety management system, equaling a participation percentage of
98.69%, in which 34,472, i.e. 97.85%, have already developed fire protection
plans.
2. Implementation of Fire Safety Equipment Inspection and Reporting Systems
Up to the end of 2004, we issued 1,128 certificates of fire fighting equipment
regarding professional engineers. We also distributed 3,237 certificates for fire
technicians with 3,699 persons having taken further advanced training for fire
professionals; the percentage of fire safety equipment inspection and reporting
in Type A occupancies was 85.8% (28,883 have been listed and 24,776 have
filed reports), and the reporting percentage for occupancies other than Type A
was 78.2% (87,776 have been listed and 68,643 have filed reports).
3. Carrying out “National Public Safety Project – Fire Safety Management”
In 2004, there were 321,831 inspections implemented on fire safety
equipment and among them 295,368 passed, resulting in a 91.8% qualification
rate; 1,630 were punished with fines, 104 with suspension of business or use,
and 1,063 were referred to the courts for compulsory enforcement.
4. Enhancing Flame-Retardant Certification Systems and Management
Up to the end of 2004, we certified 1,442 such systems, and also properly
labeled more than 3.45 million items of flame- retardant material, and 28,638
were identified for the placement of flame-retardant objects. The relevant
regulations in this case are “Enforcement Rules for Flame-Retardant
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Performance
Certification”,
“Performance
Standards
for
Testing
of
Flame-Retardant Materials”, “Operational Rules for Institutes Performing
Flame-retardant Performance Tests”, “Operational Rule for Flame-retardant
Performance Certifications”, and “Rate Charging Standards for Flame-retardant
Performance Certification and Standards for Testing of Flame-retardant
Performance for Bedding Materials”. We have already instituted all of these
standards.
5. Execute Management of Fire Safety Equipment Approval
“The Operational Rule for Fire Safety Devices and Equipment Approval” and
related standards were revised and published in 2002. In these regulations, we
specified nine items to be approved such as deluge valves, water flow detecting
devices and fire pumps, etc. Concerning items that have yet to be announced
because of lack of necessary approval, the Fire Service Technology Review
Committee of the Ministry of the Interior has agreed on and selected fourteen
such items. They are e.g. relief bags; emergency broadcast systems and various
agents used as alternatives to halon. We will review and approve these items.
Those articles which we reviewed and qualified were issued with approval and
certification documents to ensure the quality levels of fire safety equipment
within the ROC.
Ⅳ. Hazardous Materials Management
1. Strengthening Hazardous Materials Regulatory Mechanisms
To render hazardous materials regulating mechanisms complete and to
improve the quality of social safety:
(1) In July 2004, “The Assessment and Selection Rules for Professional Institutes
Performing Liquid Hazardous Material Storage Inspections” were instituted
to assess and select qualified professional institutes that are capable of
performing liquid hazardous material storage inspections through public and
fair procedures. It is our goal in this instance to facilitate inspections of
hazardous material storage prior to completion and to ensure the structural
safety of such installations.
(2) Assuring that “The Implementation Program for Enhancing Fire Safety
Inspections on Hazardous Materials Factories” is in place: To reach this
objective, we require all special municipal, county and city fire agencies to
enhance fire safety inspections on hazardous material manufacturers. We
also require that these manufacturers improve their self-inspection and
emergency response capabilities, in order to prevent the occurrence of
accidents and also to reduce losses caused by disasters. We are taking these
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actions to ensure public safety.
(3) Promotion and implementation of a secure hazardous material supervisory
system and for disaster prevention plans and also for fire fighting: With
these concepts in mind, we are assigning management supervisors to control
hazardous material security and to develop disaster prevention plans related
to fire fighting in manufacturing facilities, to storing or handling thirty times
or more hazardous materials, and to execute hazardous material security
supervision in accordance with plans to facilitate hazardous material safety
management systems. In 2004, we gave thirty training sessions concerning
hazardous material security supervisors. We also issued 778 certificates for
hazardous material security supervisors.
2. Finalization of the Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) Safety Regulatory Mechanism
(1) This Agency supervises and encourages each special municipal, county and
city government to report illegal refilling of expired cylinders by liquid gas
providers and also the use of expired cylinders and overloading by gas
distributors in gas shops.
(2) Maintaining the quality of LPG containers: In addition to regular inspection
of LPG containers, the qualification labels on such containers shall be clearly
noted with the next inspection dates for public identification. In 2004, 3.73
million LPG container inspection cards were issued.
(3) In order to minimize dangerous situations from developing we are teaching
the public how correctly to identify expired LPG containers. 120,000 copies
of posters, a promotion film and promotional CDs were distributed to remind
and to educate people regarding the safe use of gas burning devices.
3. Implementation of a Regulatory System for Firecrackers and Fireworks in
General
(1) Strategies concerning firecrackers and fireworks manufacturers
The institution of “The Assessment Plan for Firecracker and Firework
Manufacturing Accident Prevention” by the MOI
The Fire Agency in conjunction with the National Police Agency requires
all special municipal, county and city governments to implement the
identification of illegal firecracker manufacturers in order to reduce the
occurrence of accidents.
Execute inspections of firecrackers and fireworks
We announced the “1011 Special Firecracker and Firework Inspection
Project” to enhance safety inspections of legitimate firecracker and
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firework factories, to strengthen disaster prevention abilities and to uphold
public safety. From 19 October to 2 November 2004, The Fire Agency,
Council of Labor Affairs and various affiliated regional inspection offices,
and fire departments jointly carried out special inspections of the
capabilities of legal firecracker and fireworks factories.
Organization of inspection workshops for firecracker and firework
factories
To implement our safety inspection policies and regulations germane to
fire cracker and firework factories, to improve the inspection standards of
safety equipment and to educate fire fighting personnel from all local
governments regarding the principles of firecracker and firework factory
inspection, four firecracker and firework factory inspection workshops
were organized in Hsinchu County, Chiayi County, Miaoli County and
Tainan County. All county and city governments with legal firecracker and
firework factories in their jurisdictions were invited to participate in these
workshops.
We produced short films and advertisements in order to urge people to
report any illegal conduct and strongly to ask people not to manufacture
any illegal firecrackers and fireworks.
(2) Completion of a regulatory legislative system for firecrackers and fireworks
In order to make the regulatory legislative system for fire crackers and
fireworks complete, the Fire Agency has instituted the following seven
affiliate rules: “Establishment of Safety Management Rules for Manufacture,
“Storage and Sales Locations of Fireworks”, “Approval Rules for Firework
Manufacturing”, “Operational Rules for the Approval of General Types of
Fireworks and Individual Approvals”, “Approval Rules Concerning
High-altitude Firework Import and Sales”, “Rules of Approval for
Professional Firework Institutes”, “Practice Rules for the Fireworks
Management Regulations”, and “Rules of Management for High-altitude
Firework Pyrotechnics and Pyrotechnist Qualifications”.
(3) Carrying out inspection systems on general firecrackers and fireworks
To enhance the safety of general firecrackers and fireworks and to help
people identify legal products, Article Seven of the Fireworks Management
Regulations specifies that general firecrackers and fireworks shall be
certified and labeled for certification before entering the markets. Also,
these regulations require that professional institutes performing general
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firecracker and fireworks certification must be selected in a public manner
and be entrusted with certification on general fire crackers and firework
types and also on individual certification to enforce the inspection system of
general firecrackers and fireworks and also to solidify product safety
management.
(4) Intensification of the promotion of safe uses of firecrackers and fireworks
Posters for disaster prevention promotion were printed and distributed to
urge people not to conduct any illegal firecracker and firework
manufacturing and processing, and to encourage parents to accompany their
children under twelve while they are playing with firecrackers and fireworks.
Our intent here is to improve awareness and recognition of the risks of
disaster and to uphold public safety.
(5) Management of firecrackers and fireworks
This Agency continuously supervises each municipal, county and city fire
department to intensify our regulation of firecrackers and fireworks and in
the identification of illegal activities. In 2004, 156 legal fireworks factories
and 26,052 legal distributors were inspected, among which 44 cases were
found violating relevant regulations (transferred to courts for legal suits), 54
cases of illegal storage and 312 cases of illegal sales (punished with fines).
V. Disaster Rescue
1. Improving Fire Rescue Capabilities
(1) This Agency supported funding 135 million NT dollars from the second
reserve fund of the Executive Yuan to purchase sixty small fire fighting
vehicles and 125 portable fire fighting pumps for the use of municipal,
county and city fire agencies to improve the fire rescue effectiveness of local
fire departments in narrow alleys. Also, lighting equipment and small air
cushions were purchased further to elevate the level of fire fighting
equipment and to enhance the fire fighting effectiveness of local fire
departments.
(2) We are working hard in order to improve our fire rescue abilities in tall
buildings, to solidify the efficiency of emergency responses, to improve the
quality of emergency medical care, to become more familiar with rescue
skills on water and to develop instructors’ knowledge and abilities.
(3) This Agency has supported a central budgeting plan for the funding of 110
million NT dollars to help local fire departments purchase more needed
fire-fighting equipment, and we have also assisted local governments to raise
79.3 million NT dollars of matching funds.
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(4) This Agency has organized fire extinguishing training with a total of fifty
trainees participating.
(5) Supervise and protect fire fighting water sources: Up to the end of 2004,
there were 57,746 surface hydrants and 57,734 underground hydrants all over
the country. Compared to the same time in 2003 year, there were 1,954
more surface hydrants and 2,327 more underground hydrants.
(6) Maintenance of fire safety during National Day holidays in order to complete
initial preparations, and to prevent fires from happening and also to alert all
necessary personnel at their posts: Should a fire break out, it shall be
extinguished immediately in order to ensure public safety during festival
activities.
(7) Promotion of Fire Prevention on Tomb-Sweeping Day. The effects of this
promotion in 2004 were very encouraging in that statistics have shown that,
during this period, wild fires in cemeteries throughout the country dropped to
34% compared to the same period during the previous year and the number
of incidents decreased by 134.
2. Improve Rescue Abilities for Specialized Disasters
(1) Improve rescue abilities for chemical disasters
To increase professional knowledge and skills of fire fighting personnel
concerning chemical disaster rescue operations, to upgrade disaster- rescue
vehicles, equipment and devices in local fire fighting units, to ensure the
safety of fire fighting and rescue personnel and to minimize the risks caused
by chemical disasters, we executed the following action plans in 2004:
“Fundamental training for chemical disaster rescue”, “Advanced training
for chemical disaster rescue”, “Commander training for chemical disaster
rescue” and “Fundamental secondary training for chemical disaster
rescue”: with a total of 1,620 participants.
We also conducted a
“Chemical disaster rescue demonstration and
exercise”.
Helping fire agencies at each level to purchase vehicles and equipment
needed for chemical disaster rescue.
(2) Improvement of drowning prevention measures
We developed “The 2004 Guidance Plan for Drowning Prevention
Measures”, requiring all fire agencies to utilize all their efforts in conjunction
with local governments and other concerned authorities to implement
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drowning prevention with the use of all governmental resources.
The
priority implementation period for drowning prevention was from May to
September. The statistics show that, compared to the same period in 2003,
the rescue rate increased from 39.51% to 43.67% while the death rate
decreased from 58.52% to 51.75%, indicating that we are making
improvement in drowning prevention.
(3) Improving mountain rescue abilities of fire agencies
“The Research Project on Reviews and Recommendations for Mountain
Emergency Rescue System” was carried out to develop effective promotion
activities and response equipment, rescue plans and mechanisms for
mountain emergency incidents by analyzing the causes of these accidents.
Our goal is to reduce mountain emergency incidents and furthermore to
improve the rescue skills of fire fighting personnel. Compared to 2003, the
number of incidents in 2004 dropped by 22, from 68 to 46, and death tolls
decreased from 18 to 6, indicating that our promotion and prevention
measures are indeed making a difference.
(4) Develop strategies for tunnel fire rescue operations
In response to the openings of highway tunnels in Snow Mountain and Pakua
Mountain in 2004, this Agency invited several experts and professionals to
assist their investigations in hopes of building a complete rescue mechanism.
Ⅵ. Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
1. Implementation of Emergency Medical Services
Whenever there is an emergency, sickness, injury, accident or distress, people
can always call 119 for help. The disaster rescue and emergency care command
center will promptly dispatch the local fire department to the scene. Relevant
fire-fighting departments perform first aid and medical care between the
location of the accident and the hospital. Relevant medical units handle medical
care within hospitals and various subsequent medical treatments. Refer to
Table 9-1 for fire fighting statistics emergency medical care in Taiwan.
2. Scope of Emergency Medical Services
(1) People who are in desperate need of medical attention due to disasters or
accidents;
(2) Those that are immobilized due to injuries or sickness;
(3) Pregnant women who are in labor;
(4) Other emergency sickness or injuries that required immediate medical
attention.
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Table 9-1 Emergency Medical Aid Statistics in Taiwan-Fuchien Area
Persons under Medical Service (Persons-time)
Year
Time of
Missions
Car
Sudden
Accident
Illness
Total
Injures by
Falling on
Falling or
Roadside
No. of Runs
with Empty
Others
Violence Drunkenness
296 565
343 076
367 011
419 523
Person
(Time)
2000
2001
2002
2003
412 340
464 941
483 407
551 363
127 730
139 536
148 652
172 701
100 417
119 324
131 344
147 397
29 418
34 247
33 473
34 138
14 868
18 594
17 535
17 146
24 132
31 375
36 007
48 141
125 080
132 093
128 991
143 427
2004
614 728 474 016 186 425
177 352
37 720
18 721
53 798
152 239
3. Improving EMS Service Quality
(1) We are improving local emergency vehicles and equipment and purchasing
regular and specialized ambulances and automatic external defibrillators to
support local fire fighting departments with emergency care and
transportation abilities prior to arrival at a given hospital.
(2) We are organizing training sessions for EMT-1, EMT-2 and EMT-Paramedics,
assistant instructors and instructors to enhance their emergency care
professional skills and to develop professional training facilities for
emergency care.
(3) This Agency is organizing training sessions for dispatchers of disaster rescue
and emergency care command centers to improve their abilities of
dispatching, communicating, coordinating, commanding and relocating.
(4) We are organizing assessment of emergency care skills and operations and
are also inspecting the training results of EMT-1, EMT-2 and
EMT-Paramedics.
(5) We are in addition planning and implementing review and assessment
projects relevant to emergency care service quality. This Agency is also
evaluating emergency care operations in each fire department to improve the
quality of emergency care services.
(6) We are urging the establishment of an air emergency medical care consulting
system. In addition to disaster rescue, this concept also supports emergency
care transfer tasks. The air emergency medical care reviewing mechanism
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has been established by the Department of Health to prevent excessive
requests for air medical transfers and to improve the quality of air emergency
medical care.
(7) We are regularly organizing demonstrations and drills of special accident and
disaster emergency care and are also enforcing emergency care so that
whenever there is major disaster or accident, the emergency medical care
system can be immediately deployed in order to reinforce communications
and coordination among local fire fighting, sanitation, medical, police and
defense forces and to reduce casualties caused by disasters or accidents.
VII. Recruiting of Civilian Resources
1. Integration of Volunteer Fire Fighting Organizations
Up to the end of 2004, there were 30,462 volunteer fire fighters within the
ROC divided among 28 divisions, 82 brigades, 180 squadrons and 602 platoons
in order to help all local governments to integrate volunteer fire fighter
organizations, to improve skill training and to perfect rescue proficiency.
2. Integration of Civilian Rescue Organizations
In order to maximize the effective uses of civilian rescue organizations and
resources, there currently are 150 civilian rescue groups and 23,000 persons
integrated and registered to help implement emergency rescue operations such
as land searches, mountain searches and maritime rescues. In addition, we are
urgently supporting the equipment needed for these operations. We are also
integrating and intensifying requisite training and professional skills in hopes of
incorporating civilian resources into disaster rescue systems and also with the
intention of amplifying additional disaster rescue effectiveness.
3. Establishment of Civilian Emergency Rescue Forces
We have chosen civic-minded civilians in ten counties and cities such as
Keelung, etc, to establish forty civilian emergency rescue teams, hoping that,
after being properly trained with professional skills depending on the nature of
their duties, these forces can immediately respond to disaster reporting and
initial rescue operations at early stages of disasters in order to facilitate the
effective uses of civilian resources in disaster rescue and relief.
4. Improvement of Volunteer Fire Fighter Equipment in Every County and City
In compliance with item 2, article 28 of the Fire Control Act, in 2004, the Fire
Agency purchased various fire-fighting equipment and fire suits and distributed
them to twenty eight county, city and harbor volunteer fire-fighting divisions.
In addition, “The Four-year Mid Range Improvement Plan for Volunteer
Fire-Fighter Organizations and Equipment” will assist our volunteer fire-fighter
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organizations with funding and equipment from 2006 to 2009.
VIII. Fire Investigation
1. The incidence of fires has reached its lowest point in the past twelve years.
In 2004, the number of fires decreased to 6,611 while the death total fell to
160. Particularly compared to 2003, the total number of fire cases dropped
substantially to 2,031 cases and 23.5%, while deaths also decreased 68 persons
and 29.8%. Both fires and resultant casualties have reached their lowest point in
the past 12 years, as shown in Table 9-2 and 9-3.
Table 9-2 Fire and Losses in Taiwan-Fuchien Area
Year
No. of Fire
(Case)
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Casualties (Persons)
Total
15 560
13 750
13 244
8 642
6 608
Death
994
1 040
857
995
710
Estimated Loss of Property
(NT$ Million)
Injuries
262
234
193
228
161
732
806
664
767
549
2 343
15 561
2 162
2 143
2 084
Table 9-3 Causes of Fire Disasters in Taiwan-Fuchien Area
Unit:％
Electrical
Year
Mechanical
Smoking
Arson
Unknown
Equipment
Cooking
Others
Equipment
2000
2001
2002
2003
14.15
15.47
15.46
20.19
14.60
10.66
10.56
15.03
6.45
8.15
8.49
8.70
3.98
4.14
4.62
5.43
5.15
5.64
3.94
5.37
4.77
5.23
3.70
4.42
50.90
50.71
53.23
40.86
2004
23.04
13.54
8.46
6.22
5.49
4.90
38.35
2. Working with Law Enforcement Authorities in a Bid to Prevent Arson
We enacted “The Anti-Arson Guidelines to be Used among Prosecutors,
Policemen and Firefighters”. In conjunction with the result of the above research
we strongly intend effectively to facilitate arson prevention by complete
reporting and lateral communication among prosecutors, policemen and
firefighters. In 2004, we carried out our project of “The Research of Arson and
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Arson Reduction Systems”. We developed all of these projects to provide
suitable methods to prevent arson in Taiwan and further to eliminate arson from
our society. After our development of these projects, arson cases decreased
from 752 (2003) to 559 (2004), that is, a reduction of 193 cases and 25.7%.
Meanwhile the number of deaths dropped from 39 to 18 for a decrease of 21
persons and 53.8%.
3. Improving the Techniques and Capabilities of Fire Investigation
(1) The ROC judiciary and local fire departments have been charged with
solving a total of 982 investigated and identified cases by the National Fire
Agency in 2004.
(2) In 2004, we held basic fire investigators certifications courses, fire debris
analysis courses, an on-the-job and professional training sessions.
(3) The contents of electronic teaching materials of the Tokyo, Japan Fire
Investigation Department were translated into Chinese and distributed to
our local fire departments for their reference in order rapidly to improve fire
investigation techniques.
(4) A gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) was purchased in 2004
to improve the accuracy of fire debris identification.
4. Study the Latest Technology Involving and Upgrading Fire Debris Determination
Techniques
The projects of “Research on the Television Set Fires” and “Research on
Rapid Examination Methods for Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris”
were studied to create a novel technology and upgrade fire investigation
techniques.
Ⅸ. Tasks of the Disaster Rescue and Emergency Care Command Center
1. We are organizing search and rescue conferences of the National Search and
Rescue Command Center of the Executive Yuan in order to increase interactions
and to improve techniques.
We are inviting domestic and international experts and various other
professionals to publish research reports, to exchange information and results
from the lessons they have learned, to improve search and rescue techniques and
to increase the bonding among international search and rescue communities.
Also, in matching the activities of “National Disaster Prevention Day”, the air,
land and maritime resources are deployed in a joint and full-scale manner in
rescue exercises simulating a major disaster to improve coordination among
various rescue units.
2. To Revise the National Search and Rescue Operation Manual and to Produce
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Introductory Films
The revision of this operational manual was completed in October 2004 for
practical purposes. Further, we are also integrating domestic rescue resources,
strengthening our national disaster rescue mechanisms, and introducing video
films of the Command Center, so visitors can have a thorough understanding of
this Center in order to achieve the goal of promoting the government’s
dedication to fire and rescue functions.
3. To Organize Duty Review Meetings in the Command Center Strictly to Carry out
Assigned Duties
We have provided reports concerning duty assessments and instructions
hoping that this meeting can play a major part in improving the effectiveness of
commanding, dispatching and coordination during disasters in order strictly to
carry out the commanding, dispatching and reporting operational duties.
4. To Assist and Carry out the Plan of “Public Fire Safety Assessment”
We effected evaluations to ascertain implementation of “Public Fire Safety
Assessment”, regarding the establishment of standard operational procedures of
disaster reporting (receiving, reporting, commanding and dispatching), disaster
information relay speed (Type B or higher, or disasters that are news-worthy or
politically important), the handling of public opinions and reactions, helicopter
applications, reporting records, duty records and emergency telephone numbers
of relevant authorities, etc, based on initial launching requirements for major
disasters developed by the disaster rescue and emergency care command centers
of each county, city or harbor fire department.
5. To Establish Rapid Handling and Response Mechanisms for Public Opinions and
Media
We are collecting news stories in order for the Command Center to respond
without delay to news reports on electronic and print media concerning correct
fire fighting and disaster handling procedures. Also, depending on the opinions
and reactions of the public, the Command Center can issue instructions to take
proper measures so that the efforts of the Fire Agency can match the demands of
society and the public in order to achieve the goal of serving the people.
6. To Use Mobile Phone Message Services for Disaster Reporting to Increase
Reporting Efficiency
Whenever there is a major disaster, the Command Center relays disaster and
emergency messages to related authorities through faxes, and in the meantime,
mobile phone messages are produced and distributed to all chief officers and
related response personnel to speed up the real time reporting and response
process.
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Ⅹ. Specialized Search and Rescue Duties
1. To Establish Duty Implementation System
(1) “The Search and Rescue Team Dispatching Plan in Responding to
International Humanitarian Rescue Operations” was instituted as the standard
for integration and assessment of on-duty county or city operations in
executing international humanitarian rescue operations.
(2) “The Dispatch Plan for Specialized Search and Rescue Teams of the National
Fire Agency and of the Ministry of Interior, to support the National Airborne
Service Corps in Implementing Operations” was created as the standard of
duty for dispatches and commands.
(3) “The Agreement on Mutual Support between the National Fire Agency, the
Ministry of Interior and the National Airborne Service Corps” is in effect as
the mutual support standard.
(4) We have developed “The Standard Operational Procedures for Mountain
Search and Rescue, Water Rescue, Sand bar and Swift-Water Rescue, Major
Traffic Accidents (including maritime distresses and air crashes), Emergency
Medical Care and Evacuation”.
2. Organization of Various Professional Search and Rescue Training Courses
(1) Professional search and rescue training abroad: Seventeen specialized search
and rescue personnel were sent to Singapore to receive urban fire fighting
and rescue training for three weeks to improve urban search and rescue levels
and skills.
(2) A total of 340 persons-time have received various domestic professional
search and rescue training courses.
3. Support of a Range of Operation Exercises and Training
In 2004, this Agency supported fire departments and disaster rescue authorities
in various counties and cities 74 times in a variety of disaster assistance and
rescue drills, Wan-An Exercise, flood (drowning) prevention, water rescue
vehicle rescue exercises, EMS exercises and forest fire extinguishing trainings.
4. Participation in Domestic and International Major Disaster Rescue Operations
(1) In 2004, this Agency carried out 88 forest fire extinguishing missions, 2 fire
rescues, 394 typhoon rescues, 159 rescues in floods, 1 earthquake rescue, 28
search and rescue operations on beaches, 22 search and rescue operations in
mountains, 64 airborne medical care and transfers operations, 1 organ
transplant and 125 other exercises. Numbers of duties performed were 884
while the total personnel in performance of these duties were 1,185. In the
future, this Agency will continue its efforts to intensify rescue training, to
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improve rescue skills and effectively to elevate the effectiveness of rescue
operations.
(2) During the July 2nd Taiwan flood (Typhoon Mindulle), Typhoon Aere and
September 11th flood (Typhoon Haima), our search and rescue teams were
sent deep into mountain areas to contact those tribes with whom
communications had been lost. (Sungho Tribe of Taichung County;
Hunghsiang Tribe, Malikuan Tribe, Tsuiluan Tribe and Shenmu of Nantou
County; Tuchang Tribe, Huayuan Tribe, Chingchuan Tribe and Chulin Tribe
of Hsinchu County) Our purpose in this was to collect any disaster
information in these areas together with local people, and then to relay this
information to central disaster response centers for assessment of disaster
situations and also as a basis of dispatching rescue resources to the affected
areas. In total, there were 1,544 people successfully rescued and 96,754 kgs
of life supporting supplies transported during the July 2 flood, Typhoon Aere
and September 11th flood, showing the effectiveness of three dimensional
disaster rescue operations.
(3) From 27 December 2003 to 6 January 2004 (11 days), our search and rescue
operations to support earthquake relief in Bam, Iran, overcome many
difficulties in entering the disaster areas to rescue lives. We successfully
executed this operation, which was delegated by the United Nations
international humanitarian rescue organizations and also by the Iranian
government. Our highly effective completion of this mission strongly
improved the diplomatic horizon for Taiwan and has thus also won
international friendships and respects.
(4) From 27 December 2004 to 2 January 2005, this Agency carried out the
disaster surveying and evaluation operations in the earthquake and tsunami
disaster in South Asia together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These
efforts took us deeply into the most devastated areas of Aceh Indonesia, to
collect all manner of disaster information and also to evaluate the best way to
render subsequent assistance and rescue. We also relayed relevant
information without delay back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for
consideration regarding rescue and assistance decision-making. We executed
this operation most successfully and have broadened the diplomatic aspects
of Taiwan.
5. In order to operate under concepts of entire nation-wide resource and flying
security, the Aerial Fire Brigade Provisional Office, MOI-NFA, Aerial Police
Brigade, National Police Agency and Aerial Brigade of Civil Aeronautics,
Ministry of Transportation and Communications have combined to form the
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National Airborne Service Headquarters under the MOI. This organization was
established on 10 March, 2004 and is responsible for supporting actions against
aerial fires, disasters and various other emergencies.
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