Hokkaido University Arctic Research Center organized a seminar entitled “Disaster Prevention Policies and Collaboration Between Rescue Experts in the Arctic and North: 2” in collaboration with the Finnish Association of Fire Officers (FAFO) on February 2, 2026.
The seminar included an overview of the Sapporo Fire Bureau, focusing on the challenges posed by winter conditions, as well as three presentations from visiting Finnish experts. These presentations covered topics such as domestic and international collaboration in rescue operations (with a focus on the Arctic), the need for Arctic fire and rescue services to adapt to the impacts of climate change, and preparedness and civil shelters in Finland.
The seminar was followed by site visits in Sapporo, Noboribetsu, and Lake Toya, where participants observed how different levels of government and fire and rescue services collaborate and prepare for large-scale natural disasters.
