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Originally an independent administrative organization, the National Research Institute of Fire and Disaster (NRIFD) was reorganized in April 2006 as a research institute within the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The NRIFD is the only institute in Japan engaged in comprehensive research on firefighting and disaster prevention. It continues in the tradition of its predecessor, the Fire Research Institute, which was established in 1948, and builds upon results already achieved. Our basic mission is the same as that of the Fire Research Institute when it was established, i.e., to provide scientific and technological support to assist firefighters in their work and respond to society's demand for safety and security.
Currently, the NRIFD is researching how to raise safety levels in congested city areas and facilities where chemicals and hazardous materials are handled. It is also researching fire and disaster management in times of large-scale natural or special disasters as well as the scope of fire investigation technology. One of our main ongoing duties is to investigate causes of major fires, fires that occur during such natural disasters as large earthquakes, and fires with special or particular characteristics. In addition, we support local fire headquarters in emergencies whenever they have difficulty managing disasters on their own by providing advice and information on methods of extinguishing fires and preventing them from spreading as well as averting secondary disasters.
The 21th century is said to be an era of diverse crises. We are at a time when technological development and the transformation of the global and social environments are causing new types of fires and disasters to escalate in number; and despite all the experience that we have accumulated, we are ill-equipped to handle them. Under these circumstances, expectations of the role that science and technology are to play in fire and disaster management run even higher. To see that these expectations are met, we strive to
keep abreast of disaster-related trends and safety needs. Moreover, we develop research on fire safety and disaster prevention to help mitigate damage.
To this end, the NRIFD actively promotes joint studies between government, industry, and academia and engages in wide-ranging international exchange on research-related topics. Also, we are increasing collaboration with research and development institutions and other organizations concerned with firefighting. It is our wish to strengthen ties with citizens, drawing strength from their support and cooperation, so that we may contribute to the creation of a society in which everyone can be safe and secure.
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