The Tokyo International Fire and Safety Exhibition is the largest in Japan. (Jim Schulz / S&S)
The Tokyo International Fire and Safety Exhibition is the largest in Japan. (Jim Schulz / S&S)
Nozzleman Eiichi Onishi from the Yokosuka Naval Base Fire Department fights a fire during a demonstration at the Tokyo Big Sight. (Jim Schulz / S&S)
TOKYO — U.S. Naval Forces Japan firefighters are staging demonstrations and presenting equipment and educational materials to attendees of the 2003 Tokyo International Fire and Safety Exhibition at Tokyo Big Sight convention center this weekend.
The four-day exhibition that began Thursday is designed to improve disaster prevention awareness and promote related technological developments.
The event features firefighting drills, booths displaying the latest firefighting technologies and seminars teaching disaster and fire prevention.
The exhibition is a good opportunity to show how we educate and train, Navy Regional Fire Chief Dan Marshall said, noting it’s also an opportunity to “show friendship and relationship with the local cities.”
The Naval Forces Japan Fire Department has an agreement with municipal departments to support each other during large disasters.
The department also provides educational training for area residents.
A vehicle with Hazardous Material Response and Confined Space Rescue equipment and a 105-foot ladder truck that can move in any direction were on display along with remote-operated talking robots teaching fire prevention.
Firefighters demonstrated a simulated aircraft fire drill using a Mobile Aircraft Firefighting Training device for the first time off-base.
The device is aircraft-shaped and uses propane to start a training fire. The flames are controllable and the exhaust environmentally friendly, officials said.
“Each performed as we’ve expected. The crews are doing a superb job as always,” said Bruce Goodwin, Yokosuka and Ikego site manager.
“I saw that they are putting strong effort in educating the children,” said Katsuaki Sugita, a spokesman and a fire captain of Toyo Fire Department, an event organizer.
He said he was impressed with the materials.
“The education for the children is based on their own responsibility, and it is helpful and informative,” he said.
In addition, about 40 people from around Japan took a tour of the fire department at Yokosuka Naval Base on Friday.
