Fire and Disaster Management Agency

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency is an administrative agency for firefighting established under the National Administrative Organization Act and the Fire Service Organization Act, and is an external bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Actual firefighting activities are the responsibility of municipalities, and are not carried out by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Its duties include research and planning of firefighting systems and fire service rules, establishment of disaster prevention inspections and other fire prevention systems, research and planning of standards for the education and training of fire service personnel and fire brigade members, fire service statistics and fire service information, and dissemination and promotion of fire service ideas. In addition, it handles matters related to firefighting for local government affairs based on the Basic Act on Disaster Countermeasures and the Act on Special Measures for Large-Scale Earthquake Countermeasures, such as matters related to liaison between the national government and local governments, and between local governments themselves. Its facilities and organizations include the National Fire and Disaster Management College and the Fire Service Council. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency was an external bureau of the Ministry of Home Affairs, but in January 2001, when the Ministry was reorganized and merged with the Management and Coordination Agency and other organizations to become the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, it became an external bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

[Kazukazu Hirata]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

国家行政組織法および消防組織法に基づいて置かれる消防に関する行政官庁で、総務省の外局。実際の消火活動は市町村の責任とされており、消防庁では行わない。所掌事務として、消防制度・消防準則の研究・立案、防災査察その他火災予防の制度の確立、消防職員および消防団員の教養訓練の基準の研究および立案・教育訓練、消防統計および消防情報、消防思想の普及・宣伝などがある。また、災害対策基本法および大規模地震対策特別措置法に基づく地方公共団体の事務で、消防にかかわるものに関し、国と地方公共団体および地方公共団体相互間の連絡に関する事項などを行う。施設等機関には消防大学校があり、ほかに消防審議会がある。なお、消防庁は自治省の外局であったが、2001年（平成13）1月同省が総務庁などと再編統合され総務省となったのに伴い、総務省の外局となった。

［平田和一］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例