It was found that the effects of the new coronavirus have extended to firefighting inspections to confirm the fire prevention system of buildings.
NHK's interview revealed that about 80% of the fire departments in Fukuoka Prefecture have not been able to carry out inspections as planned, as it is particularly necessary to thoroughly prevent infections at facilities for the elderly and disabled.
Firefighting inspections are to inspect firefighting equipment based on the Fire Service Act, and firefighting staff enter various buildings such as commercial facilities and offices according to the annual plan to check the firefighting system.
NHK interviewed two fire departments and 22 fire departments in Fukuoka Prefecture about this inspection, and found that about 80% of the fire departments in welfare facilities for the elderly and disabled, which require thorough infection control, were as planned. It turned out that the inspection could not be carried out.
Of these, five firefighters said they were refraining from all inspections at welfare facilities, and five firefighters said they were conducting inspections but less than half of the plan.
In addition, there are three fire departments that did not go in and conducted inspections by listening to the telephone, and it is a difficult situation that you have to be careful when entering the facility where elderly people who may become seriously ill if infected. You can see.
The person in charge of each fire department said, "It is difficult to enter the welfare facility because the family cannot visit it," or "I only go to the welfare facility if I call in advance and get consent."
Based on this situation, some fire departments in Fukuoka Prefecture carry out "remote inspections" to check disaster prevention equipment through the screen of a personal computer using a smartphone, or create their own check sheets, instead of on-site inspections. We have begun to search for ways to respond to changes in the corona disaster, such as requesting inspections.