Fire Protection Analysis and Potential Improvements for Wooden Cultural Heritage Sites in Japan

• Published in: Journal of disaster research Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 586 - 594
• Main Authors: Kim, Kwang-Il, Konishi, Tadashi, Ziemba, Tomek, Nonaka, Hirofumi, Nam, Ki-Hun, Tanaka, Takeyoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-08-2015
• ISSN: 1881-2473; 1883-8030
• DOI: 10.20965/jdr.2015.p0586

Wooden cultural properties are exposed to risks such as forest fires and arson, due to natural disasters and social change. To protect these heritage sites from such risks, we focused on fire protection facilities and systems, fire-related accidents, and arson affecting wooden cultural heritage sites in Kyoto and Hyogo. A questionnaire was filled out by heritage site affiliates, and responses and investigated materials were analyzed. We found that Kyoto and Hyogo wooden cultural heritage sites were well equipped with fire protection facilities and equipment. Specifically, automatic fire protection systems linked the general public, government-related institutes and local governments to improve facilities usage. These systems played a crucial cultural site monitoring role. Increasing public interest in these cultural heritage sites has led to a more engaging and prompt response by the small number of neighboring parties and firefighters. To improve fire and disaster prevention functionality effectively, it is recommended that sites establish automatic fire protection systems and cooperate with the general public, local institutions, and government agencies.