Female Firefighters in Disaster Response: Stories from the Noto Peninsula Earthquake

2024-01-31 12:14:07

On the 31st, six female fire department personnel from Kanagawa Prefecture who had been dispatched to areas affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake responded to an interview with the press at the Yokohama City Fire Department headquarters building. The prefecture has formed the Kanagawa Prefecture Emergency Fire Support Battalion, which involves all fire department headquarters in the prefecture, but initially only male personnel were dispatched due to concerns such as the availability of toilets. Female employees said, “I wanted to get to the site as soon as possible.”

A female firefighter looking back on her activities in the disaster area on the 31st at the Yokohama City Fire Department headquarters building.

◆Fourth dispatch from 19th to 22nd “I was able to work without anxiety”

Those interviewed were members of the fourth dispatch, who were active in the disaster area from the 19th to the 22nd. Keiko Saseki (36) of the Zama City Fire Department Headquarters in Kanagawa Prefecture, who confirmed the damage to fire hydrants and fire prevention water tanks in the Machino district of Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, said, “I learned regarding the damage on the news and mightn’t do anything while doing my job.” I was frustrated that I mightn’t do it,” he said. She was unable to take a bath due to the continuous water outage, but Akina Ishibashi (34) of the Kawasaki City Fire Department said, “Once I got used to using the portable toilet, I had no problems and was able to function without anxiety.”

Keiko Sagi of the Zama City Fire Department inspecting fire hydrants in the disaster-stricken area (provided by the Yokohama City Fire Department) in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture.

Kazuhiro Tsukahara (60) of the Yokohama City Fire Department, who served as a battalion chief, said, “Both men and women work as fire fighters, but some women who are victims of disasters say they feel safer when there is someone of the same sex around them.” We want to fulfill our respective roles in accordance with the needs of each,” he said. (Koko Hojo)


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