Praying for citizens’ safety every day

Mr. Yusuke Hagiwara is working hard every day since he became a firefighter, which he had dreamed of since he was a junior high school student. Firefighters work based on work shifts around the clock. On the day of the interview, he went to the site of a fire around 8:00 a.m. shortly after he finished his shift.

The Fire Department is home to vehicles with rolespumpers, ambulances, and rescue operation vehicles. These vehicles are assigned to firefighters in charge of the respective duties. Meanwhile, firefighters are ranked into a variety of classes, for example, Company Commanders who take overall command at the site of fire or disaster, Platoon Commanders who serve as the leaders for each vehicle, firefighting team members who engage in firefighting activities, and other classes.

Department members are roughly divided into two categories: firefighting staff members and emergency medical service staff members. I belong to Fire-fighting Team 1, Fire Fighting and Disaster Prevention Section. When a fire breaks out, we are dispatched to the fire site on a pumper which is used for firefighting by carrying water from a hydrant. These fire engines are very important things entrusted from citizens. So, every morning we polish and maintain them praying no fire or accident will occur in the city.

We, firefighting team members, work under the direction of a Company Commander or a Platoon Commander. We go into action not only when a fire breaks out, but also in the case of a traffic accident. For example, when an accident happens on the expressway, we go to the site along with an ambulance, and take control of the situation so that the emergency medical service team can work safely at the dangerous accident site.

Photo: The pumper is kept sparkling clean by Mr. Hagiwara

What he learned from his father and precious lives lost made him decide to be a firefighter

When the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake struck, Mr. Hagiwara was a baby less than a month old. He was safe at the home of his mother’s family in Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture, but at that time his father and his brother were in Nagata Ward, Kobe, one of the areas that suffered devastating damage. The biggest reason for him wanting to become a firefighter was his father.

My father is also afire fighter. I have watched my father working as a firefighter since I can remember, and as I grew up I became determined to be a firefighter someday in the future. The other major reason why I wanted to be a firefighter was the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. I lost two of the people closest to me, my brother and grandmother, because of the disaster. Of course, I do not remember them or the disaster, since it happened shortly after I was born. I could not do anything for the families killed by the disaster, but I wanted to work to rescue and help people in case of disaster or if something like this happens again in the future.

At home I don’t often talk about my work with my father. But when I ask him about something I do not understand related to my work, he tells me a lot in detail. Although he doesn’t talk much, I’ve learned so many things from him.

Do all I can now to live a life with no regrets

Mr. Hagiwara studied hard and did his best to make his dream of becoming a firefighter come true. As a result he successfully realized his long-cherished dream, and started to work as a firefighter soon after he graduated from high school.

He played soccer from elementary school to high school. His position was a forward. His main role was to score goals taking a position near the opposing team’s goal. His role in a soccer team may have influenced his personality, which is shown by his positive and forward-looking attitude.

Maybe I am the kind of person who demonstrates a never-give-up attitude when I do what I am interested in. This attitude was shown when I become a firefighter. Also, I tend to do my best even when I do my hobbies. I want to do what I can do while I am young. I think my brother, who died very young, would have had many things he wanted to do if he had lived. So, my wish is to do all I can now, for my brother, to live my life without regrets.

“I want to work as a rescue team member, to make my next dream come true.”

“Now I am in my second year of work, and I am trying my best to do each of my duties,” Mr. Hagiwara continued to talk humbly. At fire sites, the situation of the fire constantly changes depending on the shape of the building, the layout of the streets, the weather conditions or other factors. His current challenge is to always take quick and appropriate responses while fulfilling his role and keeping his eyes on the surroundings. His desire is to keep training and gaining experience to eventually be able to look over a whole fire or disaster site.

According to Mr. Yoshiki Morioka, the Company Commander, who accompanied Mr. Hagiwara, it takes about five years for a firefighter to be able to work while watching the surroundings, and about 10 years to have the capability to take charge over the whole situation. From the viewpoint of Mr. Morioka, Mr. Hagiwara is a quiet person, always maintaining a calm attitude, and yet having an inner fortitude. Mr. Hagiwara says his next dream is to become a rescue team member.

Rescue team members go into a burning building to rescue people surrounded by flames at a fire site, or save people who are trapped at a high altitude or who fell into a hole. Their work requires bodily strength, a great deal of knowledge and good judgment. I want to be able to rescue suffering people at the risk of my life at the front line of disaster. My father has long worked as a rescue team member, so I also want to do the same job someday in the future.

Photo: Mr. Hagiwara’s next dream is to become a rescue team member to rescue victims at the front line of disaster

I wish to keep protecting my home town Kobe

Company Commander Morioka told, “What is required at various fire and accident sites is an ability to make a cool-headed decision. It is necessary to maintain a calm and reassuring attitude at all times to avoid making our team members feel unsettled, and have a strong sense of responsibility that we should take the initiative in facing the situation of fire sites. According to Mr. Morioka, the best training for young firefighters is to learn while watching their superiors’ actions and behavior, and by doing so just gain and accumulate experience.

During daily training, I sometimes get ahead of myself to act as fast as I can. However, in such a case, I can easily make a mistake, so I try to maintain a calm attitude as much as possible. To become a leader who can provide proper instructions, the only thing I should do is just learn through training and accumulate experience at fire sites.

Photo: Mr. Hagiwara with Company Commander Morioka, a very reliable superior in every respect

In contrast to his tranquil tone, Mr. Hagiwara secretly harbors a passion. At the end of the interview, we asked him what kind of activity he wants to do here in Kobe in the future.

I was born and raised in Kobe, and have lived here for 20 years. I believe I will continue to live and work at the Fire Department in Kobe. I didn’t actually see the scenes of our city destroyed by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. I only know Kobe in its current beautiful state. To maintain this situation, I want to continue protecting the city of Kobe. I also desire to always work at the front line of fire or disaster sites to protect citizens, no matter what kind of disaster happens.

(Photographed by Natsumi Morimoto, interviewed and written by Kaoru Nikaido and Aya Yamamori)