Photo By Matthew Manning | Tsuyoshi Gibu and Scott Minakami sign a mutual support agreement at the fire...... read more read more
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CAMP HANSEN, Japan - The Marine Corps Base Camp Butler Fire Department, in conjunction with local fire departments, renewed an agreement enabling joint fire fighting capabilities, during a ceremony at the Camp Hansen Fire Department Jan. 30.
The local fire departments included Kin Town, Onna Village and Ginoza Village.
This was the first time in more than 25 years the agreement had been renewed.
The agreement will allow the local fire departments or MCB Camp Butler to request assistance from one another in case of an emergency. This greatly increases the force that can respond to an emergency and potentially save more lives and reduce property damage if a disaster occurs. The agreement enhances the good relations between Camp Hansen and Kin Town.
“It is important to work together in the case a natural disaster strikes us, as the camp is so close to us in the community. I am glad that the agreement is being renewed,” said Tsuyoshi Gibu, Kin Town mayor.
The agreement will also improve public safety by improving the planning and communication between the two fire departments, said Col. David P. Olszowy, the Camp Hansen commander.
“We will have joint training exercises in the future with the two departments at the Camp Hansen joint training facility,” Olszowy said.
Gibu said he hopes there will be an exchange of knowledge and improved friendship as a result.
“The communication channel with Camp Butler Fire Department has been there for a fire, but the emergency response and rescue operation are now added,” said Naoyuki Igei, chief of Kin District Fire Department Headquarters. “This will enhance cooperation at the time of a natural disaster.”
The agreement will give us opportunities for joint training that will lead to equipment updates and morale building. We will be able to work together on emergency response and rescue operations during natural disasters.”
A recent example of this partnership occurred when the Marine Corps Base Camp Butler Fire Department provided support to the Chatan Fire Department during an off base fire in the Diawa Electrical Warehouse last October.
The updated agreement was expanded to include multiple disaster scenarios.
“It has expanded the focus of the agreement,” said Olszowy. “In the past it just dealt with fire fighting, but the Great East Japan Earthquake taught us that tsunamis and earthquakes also need to be included.”
Olszowy said the new agreement is more comprehensive, including plans for fire fighting, disaster relief, search and rescue, as well as medical services.
The response time to a crisis will also be decreased by this agreement.
“If there is a fire on Camp Hansen, the Kin Town fire department will come to assist the firefighting efforts,” said Olszowy. “We get mutual support from Camp Schwab and Camp Courtney, but they can take 30 to 45 minutes to get here. The Kin Town fire department is literally right around the corner and can be here in less than five minutes.”
Olszowy said the new agreement enables the Camp Hansen fire department to respond to situations in Kin Town as well.
“I think this agreement is the first step in a more comprehensive disaster relief plan for the island of Okinawa and the different municipalities that are here,” said Olszowy. “What I hope is that we were able to learn lessons from the tsunami up on (mainland Japan) and develop plans for evacuation in the event of another disaster.”
The previous agreement limited the joint effort between the two fire departments to a few events.
“Until now, only in case of fire they would work with each other,” said Gibu. “From today on, they can now also support each other in any emergency situation.”
| Date Taken: | 01.30.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 02.02.2012 17:40 |
| Story ID: | 83241 |
| Location: | CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 84 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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