The New Taipei City Fire Department serves one of Taiwan’s fastest growing urban areas, facing rapid population increase, high‑density housing, aging infrastructure, and mixed‑use buildings that complicate rescue operations.

Urban renewal lags: many old homes need demolition and rebuilding, yet at current rates it could take centuries to fully modernize the housing stock.

Firefighters are stretched thin, with high workloads, long overtime, and equipment or manpower shortages, especially in peripheral or newly developed districts. Since 1952, about 127 Taiwanese firefighters have died in the line of duty.

Firefighter wearing protective gear and helmet, fighting a fire in a structure with charred remains and smoke.

On The Front Line

Firefighters working at the scene of a car fire in a smoky environment, using hoses to extinguish the flames.
Firefighters in protective gear walking away from a fire truck towards a fire with large billowing smoke in the background.
Firefighter carrying a rolled-up fire hose in an urban alleyway with other personnel and onlookers in the background.
Firefighters battling a building fire with flames and smoke visible in the background.
Group of firefighters at night wearing protective gear and helmets, standing near a building with other structures in the background.
Firefighters working to extinguish a car fire in a parking lot during a rainstorm, with flames still visible in the background.
Firefighters battling a large fire in a building at night, with sparks flying as a firefighter uses a tool near a metal shutter, and group of firefighters in distance amid smoke and flames.
Firefighters battling a large industrial warehouse fire with flames and smoke coming from the building, firefighters spraying water, and emergency vehicles nearby.
Firefighters battling a large blaze consuming a modern building in an urban area with thick black smoke and flames, with firefighters handling hoses in the foreground.
A building under construction on fire with flames and sparks erupting from the top at night.
Firefighters battle a large fire engulfing a structure made of wood and metal, with intense flames and thick smoke.
A large building is on fire with thick black smoke billowing into the air, while flames are visible at the roof.
Two firefighters spraying water on a large fire consuming a building with flames and smoke, amid electrical wires and structures.