The Fire Bureau of Taichung City Government is continuously enhancing its disaster response capabilities in the mountainous regions in Heping District! Over the period from 2022 to last year, a total of 2.25 million NTD was allocated by the city government to procure various types of equipment for mountain search and rescue operations. Additionally, efforts are ongoing to improve the quality of wireless communication for disaster relief and rescue, thereby boosting the effectiveness of search and rescue operations in the mountainous areas in Heping District and ensuring the safety of personnel on duty. Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen visited the Lishan Branch of the second corps of the Fire Bureau on January 18 to conduct an inspection and distribute tokens of appreciation such as red envelopes and New Year couplets. She conveyed heartfelt gratitude to the firefighters for their dedication over the past year, acknowledging their role in safeguarding the community. Mayor Lu expressed hopes for the safety of tourists, hikers and local residents venturing into the Lishan area, known for its stunning landscapes.
Mayor Lu added that the Lishan Branch, established in 2020, has the highest altitude among all branches of the Fire Bureau of Taichung City Government. Covering an area with multiple significant mountain peaks, it faces diverse challenges beyond typical fires, including mountain-related emergencies such as lost or stranded hikers, as well as snow rescue missions. As a result, the branch must maintain comprehensive training, manpower, and equipment to effectively respond to these varied situations.
The Fire Bureau has observed a consistent increase in mountain incidents in Heping District over the last four years: 78 cases in 2020, 61 cases in 2021, 85 cases in 2022, and 92 cases in the previous year. Among these occurrences, cases of individuals getting lost or going missing were the most prevalent, followed by instances of injury. Apart from allocating funds to procure mountain search equipment, the city government has also strived for the subsidies under the Five-Year Mid-term Plan for the Enhancement of Mountain Accident Rescue Efficiency, which was initiated by the National Fire Agency of the Ministry of the Interior from this year onwards. The goal is to further enhance the search and rescue capabilities.
In addition, between 2021 and 2022, the Fire Bureau finalized the transition to digital radio communication equipment for the Lishan, Guguan, Heping, and Shuangqi branches. Last year, they also completed the installation of digital radio relay stations at four sites, including Anmashan, Fushoushan, Toukeshan, and Guguan, improving the quality of wireless communication for disaster relief and rescue operations in Heping District.
Director Sun Fu-yu mentioned that since its establishment in 2020, the Lishan Branch has been delivering more efficient and comprehensive services to the residents of Greater Taichung. This improvement is attributed to the branch's utilization of modern equipment, resources, and skilled professionals. To enhance their rescue capabilities and emergency response strategies, the Fire Bureau conducts regular mountain search and rescue training and employs technology for disaster relief. Additionally, they have recently begun developing the Cross-Platform Search and Rescue Information Management System to further enhance their rescue capabilities. Today, Mayor Lu and representatives from various city government departments, including city council member Ku Hsiu-ying and the representative of city council member Chu Yuan-hung, visited the branch to show support to the firefighters.