The Taoyuan City Volunteer Firefighters’ Hiking and Training Fellowship Event kicked off on the 22nd, gathering hundreds of firefighters and volunteers to stretch their legs and bond at Shimen Reservoir. Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan attended the event and said that while firefighters protect the health of citizens, they also need to take good care of themselves. Through hiking activities, they can improve cardiopulmonary function, regulate the autonomic nervous system, and gain health, smiles, friendships, and confidence.
Cheng Wen-tsan pointed out that over the past three years, the city government has continuously carried out a series of firefighting reforms and improvement measures, including increasing staffing. Around 300 new positions have been added in the past three years, and another 180 are expected next year. The total number of staff in the Fire Bureau will increase from 1,000 to 1,500, making it the fastest-growing in Taiwan.
In addition, 99 new firefighting and disaster relief vehicles have been purchased, with a budget of about NT$730 million; personal equipment and gear such as infrared thermal imaging cameras, lighting ropes, and air breathing apparatuses have also been upgraded, with a budget of around NT$400 million; and the hazard pay allowance for firefighters with heavy and dangerous duties has been increased, raising the field hazard pay by 70%, from NT$8,435 to NT$14,340 per person per month. This year, a salary raise plan is also under consideration to give all firefighters greater strength, better protection, and a more complete firefighting team in Taoyuan.
Cheng Wen-tsan mentioned that the city government plans to build five new fire stations within four years, including the already operational Pingding and Puxin stations. The remaining Daxi, Balin, and Yong’an stations are under construction. There are also plans to renovate four existing station buildings, including those in Xinpo, Youshi, Puzi, and Guoling, to provide firefighters with better working environments. The Fire Training Center and Disaster Prevention Education Museum in Bade is nearing completion and will serve as an excellent venue for firefighting education, helping citizens understand the importance of disaster prevention and rescue and raising awareness of disaster preparedness.
(China Times)