Tag - firefighters

 
 

FIREFIGHTERS

Local authorities on Tuesday confirmed the deaths of three hotel staff members who went missing in the city of Fukushima on Monday.
JAPAN
Feb 18, 2025
Three hotel staffers found dead after going missing in Fukushima mountains
The three men were found collapsed in the snow near the hot spring source at around noon on Tuesday.
A slope (left) is built at the intersection of a sunken road in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture on Saturday.
JAPAN
Feb 1, 2025
Slope built to reach man trapped in sinkhole in Saitama
Firefighters will now launch a full-scale effort to find the 74-year-old driver as soon as preparations are made.
A sinkhole at an intersection on a road in the city of Yashio, Saitama Prefecture, on Thursday morning
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jan 31, 2025
Heavy machinery to be deployed in bid to save man trapped in Saitama sinkhole
To stabilize the site and facilitate rescue efforts, crews are excavating a 4-meter-wide, 30-meter-long ramp to deploy heavy equipment and clear debris.
Efforts continued Thursday to rescue a 74-year-old truck driver trapped in a massive sinkhole in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture.
JAPAN
Jan 30, 2025
74-year-old truck driver trapped in Saitama sinkhole for third day
Witnesses reported that the ground collapsed moments before the truck drove over the area, sending the vehicle plummeting into the chasm.
The area in Hiroshima Prefecture where a forest fire stared on Friday is flanked by a shooting range operated by the Maritime Self-Defense Forces.
JAPAN
Jan 17, 2025
Hiroshima forest on fire after military explosives drill
The fire follows the issuing of a dry weather advisory in southern Hiroshima after a long period without rain.
New unmanned water-cannon robots are set to be deployed to emergency fire assistance teams nationwide.
JAPAN
Dec 16, 2024
Emergency teams to be equipped with unmanned water-cannon robots
The robots, remotely operated, can navigate fire sites even during earthquakes or tsunami warnings.
The Usasuka Ryuchu throne carving on the second floor of Shuri Castle’s main hall features a unique twisted dragon design — a detail missing from prior reconstructions.
JAPAN
Oct 31, 2024
Okinawa's Shuri Castle marks five years since devastating fire
With completion set for 2026, national and Okinawan authorities are working together to restore intricate details.
Rescuers take part in a drill held at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN
Oct 25, 2024
Large-scale drill held at Haneda Airport
More than 1,000 participants practiced procedures for putting out fires and rescuing people involved in an accident.
Oita Prefecture's new fire and ambulance command center, located in the city of Oita, accepts live video footage from callers, allowing dispatchers to assess emergency situations more accurately.
JAPAN / Society
Oct 7, 2024
Oita Prefecture first in Japan to launch centralized fire command center
The new command center centralizes emergency 119 call response at the prefecture level, and scales up as needed during major disasters.
A remote-controlled BurnBot RX1 prototype produces a containment line during a prescribed burn operation in Paicines, California, on Aug. 12.
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change
Aug 30, 2024
Robots are starting (good) fires in California
BurnBot's robot keeps combustion within its burning chamber, where propane torches and air blowers bring flame temperatures up to 1,000 degrees Celsius.
In almost 30 years of fighting wildfire, Art Gonzales has seen blazes grow progressively bigger and stranger.
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change
Oct 20, 2023
‘It’s all-consuming.’ Wildfire whispering is now a year-round job
What was once limited to certain months now encompasses an entire ‘fire year'
Japan Times
WORLD / FOCUS
Nov 21, 2021
Burnout: Firefighter trauma rises in American West
Climate change has ratcheted up the pressure on firefighters, who face lengthier wildfire seasons and blazes that have devoured forests and rural communities.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History / JAPAN TIMES GONE BY
Dec 31, 2020
Japan Times 1996: Murayama to step down
A prime minister steps aside after being blamed for a series of blunders related to the previous year's catastrophes.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2018
Ladder stunts wow crowds at traditional Tokyo firefighting event
The Tokyo Fire Department on Saturday held a new year event featuring traditional ladder stunts, simultaneous water shooting, firefighting drills and parades.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jul 10, 2017
Fire in London's Camden Market brought under control
Firefighters have brought under control the fire in a building in London's Camden Market, the London Fire Brigade said Monday.

Longform

Tokyo Koon stands at the forefront of tackling the so-called 2025 issue, also known as the “Magnetic Tape Alert.”
The race to save 20th-century history