Introduction to the Fire Bureau of Kinmen
In the spring of 1933 (Republic of China 22), a major fire broke out at the Dongmen vegetable market in Houpu (Jincheng), causing significant casualties. In response, the County Chamber of Commerce proposed the establishment of the "Kinmen Firefighting Association," electing Mr. Wang Ting-zhi as president and Mr. Chen Zhuo-fan as vice president. In November of the same year, Vice President Chen led a delegation to Xiamen to commission the local business community to purchase two water pumps. These were delivered to Kinmen on New Year's Day of 1934, and the "Kinmen Firefighting Team" was established.
In 1936, the Kinmen Firefighting Team was officially placed under the jurisdiction of the county government and renamed the "Kinmen County Government Firefighting Team."
in 1937, due to the invasion of China by Japan and the occupation of many regions, the county firefighting team was effectively disbanded.
In 1945, after the recovery of Kinmen, the county police department formed the "Defense Corps Firefighting Team" in 1946.
In 1949, when the Nationalist Army stationed in Kinmen, the county police department and the Chamber of Commerce jointly raised funds to establish the "Volunteer Firefighting Team."
During the "3-9 Artillery Battle" in 1954 and the "8-23 Artillery Battle" in 1956, frequent artillery-related fires occurred. Firefighters, including both police and volunteers, risked their lives to perform rescue and disaster relief operations under heavy bombardment.
On January 1, 1972, the "Kinmen County Police Bureau Fire Police Team" was officially established as a prototype for a disaster prevention system.
In 1994, the Executive Yuan passed a resolution to separate firefighting from the police system. On July 16 of the same year, the "Preparatory Office of the National Fire Agency" was established, marking the formal separation of the police and firefighting functions.
In August 1995, the "Kinmen County Fire Bureau Preparatory Team" was set up under the county police bureau.
On December 31, 1999, the "Kinmen County Fire Bureau" organization was officially implemented according to an order issued by the Kinmen County Government. The official implementation date was January 1, 2000, after being approved by the Examination Yuan on January 30, 2001.
On June 25, 2004, the name of the "Kinmen County Fire Bureau" was revised by the Kinmen County Government to simply "Kinmen Fire Bureau," effective from February 21, 2004.
On October 24, 2022, the first and second fire battalions were established, and the fire brigade headquarters were officially inaugurated.
On June 1, 2024, the "Inspection Training Section" was renamed the "Rescue and Training Section," and the "Disaster Rescue Section" was renamed the "Disaster Management Section."
According to Article 1 of the "Fire Services Act," the three primary duties of fire personnel are: "fire prevention," "disaster rescue," and "emergency medical services." In addition to these statutory duties, "public service" is also a key focus, especially as the government has opened up tourism and facilitated the "small three links" (small-scale cross-strait transport between Kinmen and Xiamen). The rapid development of high-rise buildings and various businesses, such as hotels, KTVs, saunas, and restaurants, has significantly impacted fire and disaster response. These developments pose substantial risks to people's lives and property, making fire safety even more critical. To ensure public safety and protect lives and property, the goal is to strengthen the firefighting system in Kinmen, creating a "safe and disaster-free Kinmen Island." This involves providing a safer living environment and more efficient firefighting services, constructing a secure fire protection network, and ensuring that by calling 119, the public can receive prompt assistance. The aim is to build a multi-layered disaster prevention system with the collaboration of all, ensuring that the community enjoys a safe, comfortable, and healthy "New Kinmen Life."