Are you ready if disaster strikes?

Find out what you need to do by watching this program...

BOSAI: Be Prepared.

Our topic this time is "Volunteer Fire Corps."

In the event of a natural disaster or fire,

there is a reliable presence that often arrives on the scene before professional firefighters - a "volunteer fire corps."

It can respond so quickly because it's composed of local residents.

The deadly earthquake that hit Noto Peninsula on New Year's Day

reminds us again how important it's to prepare for disaster.

Today, I've come to Sano Town in Tochigi Prefecture to learn about Japan's unique SHOBODAN

or Volunteer Fire Corps that will play an important role in times of disaster.

A traditional Japanese New Year's event called Dezomeshiki is held to demonstrate firefighting abilities to the residents.

The local volunteer fire corps also participates in the event.

Hello, I'm Chairat.

Nice to meet you.

I'm Arai.

Arai Hisao is a member of the Sano City Volunteer Fire Corps.

This fire corps has about 600 members.

They all have regular occupations, but also join in firefighting activities.

My regular occupation is running a retail business selling fuel.

Members of the volunteer fire corps have a different status from professional firefighters.

They participate of their own accord.

People who live, work, or attend school in the area can participate.

Can foreign nationals participate?

Yes, they can, although there are several activities that are restricted for legal reasons.

However, the aims of the foreign national members in our group are the same as all the other members.

The roots of the volunteer fire corps concept go back to the Edo period.

With so many wooden houses packed together, Japan was susceptible to the spread of fires,

and local residents were required to cooperate in the initial firefighting.

Ta-da! I changed into uniform!

I think it's cool. It's very easy to move around.

Sano City's Volunteer Fire Corps conducts drills at least once a month.

Today, a fire suppression drill is being held on the premises of a fire station.

- Ah?
- Our Division 4 Squad 1 owns this pumper.

A pumper is a type of fire engine.

Arai and his team use one that does not carry water

but is supplied with water from hydrants or other sources.

This is a cart for carrying the heavy hoses.

Six or seven hoses are bundled together, and folded into a pleated shape.

Once you get one out, you can pull them all the way.

They're all linked.

You connect the hose here, and stretch it all the way out.

That needs some training.

Yes, you need a certain amount of experience to handle it.

On the supposition that a fire has broken out on the third floor of this training building,

a fire suppression drill is going to be conducted.

Their goal is to start discharging water within 3 to 4 minutes after arriving at the scene.

To discharge water from multiple locations,

this special device is used to redirect the water flow.

Wow!... Powerful!

In the way they dress and work, they're just like regular firefighters.

The water reaches the third floor!

The hose has a really high water pressure.

Yes. For safety, the end should always be secured by two people

and the water sprayed by at least two people.

The pressure's too strong for one person to hold it for long.

At a fire scene, there must be teamwork and trust.

The Sano City Volunteer Fire Corps includes foreign members.

Kakazu Anpo, a Peruvian, was introduced to the corps by a senior colleague at work.

I was born in Japan, but my nationality is not Japanese,

so at first I worried about whether or not they would accept me.

But once I joined the Corps, everyone was very kind and willing to teach me anything I didn't know.

Now I've been accepted as part of the team, so I feel great now.

The volunteer fire corps plays an important role not only in the case of fire

but also at the time of other disasters.

During the 2019 typhoon, Sano City suffered serious damage from river flooding.

At that time, the Sano City Volunteer Fire Crops worked to deal with the flooding for three days.

The total number of sandbags used to minimize the flooding amounted to 1,000.

The sandbags are kept in storehouses in the locality.

In the event of the threat of major flood damage,

sandbags are sometimes produced on the spot,

so regular drills for making them are also conducted.

There are tricks regarding sandbag stacking.

Assuming that the water flows from upstream,

the sandbags should be piled up with their bottoms facing the water.

If placed like this, the mouth side may open and become useless.

The tiers should be staggered so that the sandbags overlap the bags below.

This stabilizes the sandbags and prevents water from seeping through.

With the help of members of the Corps, Chairat piles up about 20 sandbags.

Where does this go?

In between, here.

Depending on circumstances during an actual disaster,

it may be necessary to pile sandbags up as high as at least 45 centimeters.

Sandbags are heavy, so, in order to carry them and stack them,

it can take two adults up to one hour to build a wall one meter wide.

It's very simple, but it takes a lot of energy!

But unless you know how to stack them, you won't help prevent disaster...

Regular, well-thought-out drills serve as a step towards protecting the community in the event of a disaster.

Kakazu Anpo gave us his thoughts on the volunteer fire corps.

Hearing "Thank you" from the local residents makes me feel really good,

and it motivates me to keep trying my hardest.

I'm a foreign national, but I'm doing my very best,

I feel like my role is to prove that I can be useful.

Recently, a big earthquake hit the Noto Peninsula.

Arai-san, what did you think about that?

Well, if something similar happened here,

I believe the teamwork and relationships we have developed would allow us

to participate in the initial response and properly carry out all our responsibilities.

The bonds we have established are important

and I hope we shall deepen them even further from here on in.