KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Nirai Fire department partnered with Kadena first responders in a humanitarian relief exercise Dec. 3 at Kadena.

This is the first exercise in which the Nirai Fire Department partnered with Kadena to get to parts of the surrounding area that would have been previously be inaccessible due to flooding, by driving through the base.

"The exercise was conducted based on the simulation that Highway 58 and Highway 74 in Kadena Town areas were flooded and traffic flow was forced to stop in the town area due to heavy rain," said Tamotsu Zukeran, Nirai Fire Department security section.

There was a situation where Highways 58 and 74, under jurisdiction of Nirai Fire Department, were flooded with heavy rain in July 2014. Vehicles could not travel on the highways for approximately three hours, isolating three fire stations of Nirai Fire Department from people who needed help.

"At that time, Nirai Fire Department could not transport the patient in Kadena Town and the patient was required to temporarily wait at a fire station," said Zukeran.

This kind of incident where first responders are either not able to reach a victim or get them to a hospital are very dangerous, but can be avoided. The Hijagawa Agreement does just that. It is an agreement between Yomitan, Kadena-Cho, Chatan, and Kadena Air Base to provide the Nirai Fire Department transit through Kadena during flooding.

Based on the agreement and under cooperation with the 18th Wing, Nirai Fire Department called the Wing, and requested base access via Gate 4, and was able to transport the patient through the base route to the emergency hospital in Okinawa City.

During the exercise, members of the 18th Security Forces Squadron met the Nirai Fire Department at Gate 4. They moved the barriers and unlocked the gate, allowing fire trucks to come through. They then escorted them through the base around to Gate 2, practicing what they would do in a real emergency.

Practicing helps smooth out the edges on what could potentially be a life-saving act.

"This exercise will prevent life and death situations by allowing Nirai Fire Department to transport medical patients to advance medical care quickly through Kadena rather transport to hospitals further north," said Ammon.

Not only will it potentially save lives, it also creates close working relations.

Ammon said that he believes the agreement strengthens the relationship between Kadena Fire Emergency Services and Nirai Fire Department, but more importantly builds friendships between Kadena and our local city partners.

Kadena is on a small island, directly in the path of what is known as "Typhoon ally." The island is susceptible to heavy rains from typhoons and in some instances severe flooding, which can block access to major roads and highways.