MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Iwakuni Station Fire Department hosted a hands-on rescue tool demonstration and training class May 27 as part of the week-long, 21st annual All-Japan Fire Chief Officer's Conference.
The class included major vendors demonstrating the latest in rescue technology. Fire departments and city officials throughout Japan attended the demonstration, including officials from Iwakuni's Disaster Preparedness Office.
"The intent of the conference was to get fire chiefs and officials throughout Japan together for one meeting to evaluate standard operating procedures and field operation guides, and provide an open forum to discuss the new technology and techniques for fire suppression and fire emergency services," said Station fire chief Devin Johnston-Lee. "This year was the first year they actually conducted major hands-on training. The representatives of the companies providing the equipment were not salesmen, they were actually the presidents, interested in seeing how we're operating."
"Our company sells a lot of equipment here, so we want to support that by bringing a specialist here to do the training on it," said Kevin Krause, rescue specialist with L.N. Curtis and Sons, an emergency equipment company based in Oakland, Calif. "It's great to come out, and see how other departments do things. I learn from them , and they learn from me."
Also among the vendors was Rob Freese, co-owner of Globe Manufacturing Company, the largest manufacturer of firefighting clothing in the world.
"We were invited here by the Iwakuni Fire Department to help demonstrate the latest and greatest in protective clothing," said Freese. "We wanted to get a hands-on experience so we can learn a little bit more about what the needs are of the military, as well as the Japanese fire departments, and help deliver products that are specific to the marketplace."
Freese demonstrated his company's new, lightweight clothing, which offers a higher level of protection and easier maneuverability during rescue operations.
Other demonstrations included concrete and steel cutting, heavy lift bags, which lift the entire front end of a bus off the ground, and shore kits and rescue struts used to help prevent further structure collapse during a rescue operation.
"It's not just about structural fire fighting any more," said Freese. "Statistically, the fire services now respond to 87 percent of things that are not structural fires. From automobile rescues to all the different equipment that's necessary for terrorist incidents, to all the first response responsibilities that the fire services now take on. Fire departments have a lot of equipment needs. This conference has not been about sales, but about information sharing between these Japanese fire services and U.S. based companies, so we can know how to better provide what is needed."