MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Yoshihiko Fukuda, Iwakuni Fire Administrator, and U.S. Marine Corps Col. Lance Lewis, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, participate in the signing of the Atago Humanitarian Assistance Local Implementation Agreement (LIA) at the Iwakuni Regional Firefighting Organization, Mar. 1, 2021.
The LIA authorizes local, off-base first responders to transit through the Atago Hills base housing area while responding to emergency conditions and other humanitarian cases in the event that other routes are impassable.
“The agreement we are about to sign is a product of the many years and successful initiatives shared between the air station and the Iwakuni Regional Firefighting Organization,” said Lewis. “The relationship between our two communities is one of mutual support and cooperation.”
If deemed necessary, and requested by the city, the air station will open both neighborhood gates for the transit of emergency vehicles. This pre-coordinated contingency plan between the air station and Iwakuni City will allow for Atago Hills to be available to Japanese first responders in a timely manner in accordance with the agreement.
Lewis said this agreement is unlike the majority of those between the air station and the city because it is designed only for emergency use. The need to route emergency vehicles through the neighborhood of Atago Hills means that something has gone wrong.
“But, this agreement, and the ability to route those vehicles, means that yet again, the city and the air station stand ready to support each other,” said Lewis. “Because as we have shown repeatedly that no matter what challenge stands in front of us, we will face it together as a community.”