Tokyo Edo Fire Museum
The Birth of Samurai Firefighters
The organized system of firefighting started in 1629 during the time of the third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu. When fires would break out, the government would send letters called Hōjibikeshi (legal fire extinguisher) which contained official orders to activate the firefighters.
However, in response to repeated fires, the government investigated measures to further strengthen this system. In 1643, the government designated several Daimyō for this task with their primary function being the protection of Edo Castle and the surrounding samurai houses. This was the creation of the Daimyō firefighting brigade or Daimyōbikeshi (Daimyo legal fire extinguisher).
In 1657, the first of the Three Great Fires of the Edo Era, the Great Fire of Meiireki, erupted. In the following year, the government took the opportunity to create a firefighting organization called the Jōbikeshi (regular firefighters) and appointed four high ranking retainers and their households as members. This organization was a standing firefighting unit under the direct control of the shogunate with the goal of protecting Edo Castle and preventing the spread of damage from fires.
The Jōbikeshi* created a residence for their exclusive use. At the residence, the firefighters made preparations to be able to depart immediately if a fire broke out and would also sleep there. This system is said to be the roots of the modern Fire Department.
*Three different fire departments were formed:
the Jōbikeshi (定火消?), or regular firefighters; the Daimyo-hikeshi (大名火消?), or firefighters in charge of protecting the temples and granaries of the Tokugawa clan; and the Machibikeshi (町火消?), or metropolitan firefighters.
Tokyo Fire Museum
https://www.tfd.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/index.html
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