Earthquake, the government found it necessary to create a fire defense system to cope with secondary disaster in populated areas.
In March of 1970, the Fire Defence Council drew up the Fire Defence Measures for Large Scale Earthquakes in the Tokyo area.
On the basis of this document, the Central Disaster Council drew up the Guidelines for the Promotion of Earthquake Preparations in Major Cities in May of 1971. These guidelines helped formulate what measures should be taken by the national government, local governments and citizens in preparation for an earthquake.
With the growing public awareness of the need to avoid secondary disasters, the Fire Defence Agency's budget for earthquake preparation was increased. The Grant System for the development of Citizens' Disaster Prevention Organizations and Large Scale Earthquake Fire Defence Facilities for the citizens' organizations was established in 1972. Thus, a budget of \163,730,000 was put aside for portable fire pumps and earthquake-resistant reservoirs (lOOm3 capacety type), in order to ensure quick extinguishment of fire due to earthquake and to prevent the spread of fire. In 1972, the Fire Defence Agency awarded the Tokyo Metropolitan Government a grant for portable fire pumps and earthquake-resistant reservoirs since Koto Ward and Sumida Ward in Tokyo are two areas with cause for concern in terms of earthquake preparation. Thus a grant system for large scale earthquake fire defence facilities was started to reduce damage from earthquake fires. Thereafter, the types of facilities increased to include special fire engines, such as electric- power supply vehicles, and emergency supplies storage to respond to changes in building structures (taller buildings) andthe resulting new types of potential damage. From fiscal 1977, in those regions receiving grants from the Fire Defence Agency for earthquake-
