Ready before the call

On July 15, Yao Fangbin was already more than 300 kilometers from his base in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, inspecting rivers and mountain roads with his team in Mudanjiang.

Moisture from the outer bands of Typhoon Bavi, combined with cold air, was forecast to bring heavy and possibly torrential rain to central and eastern Heilongjiang. Before the first rescue call came in, Yao and his fellow firefighters checked evacuation routes, assessed areas at risk of flooding and landslides, and conducted rope and water rescue drills.

"When I first joined the brigade, our work usually began only after disaster struck," Yao said. "Now, our work starts much earlier. We focus on preparedness and disaster prevention, making rescue operations more targeted and effective."

As climate change brings more frequent severe rain, flooding and urban waterlogging across China, fire and rescue teams nationwide are devoting more time to emergency preparedness before disasters occur.

In China, firefighters do far more than put out fires. They also respond to floods, landslides, earthquakes, building collapses, traffic accidents and other emergencies. Depending on their expertise and location, specialized teams may carry out evacuations, search-and-rescue operations, emergency reconnaissance and disaster relief across different regions.

Yao, who has served with the Heilongjiang fire and rescue mobile general brigade for more than two decades, has seen firsthand how the scope of the job has expanded.

In the past, his brigade mainly fought forest fires. Today, its members also tackle summer floods and carry out other rescue missions, while providing emergency support at major attractions and events, including Harbin Ice and Snow World during the winter tourism season.

Anticipating disaster

The shift from reacting to disasters to anticipating them is also evident in Anhui province.

Xue Xuetao, a firefighter with the Hefei fire and rescue mobile brigade, recently led an advance team to Feidong county in Hefei, pre-positioning personnel and emergency communications equipment along the projected path of the approaching typhoon.

Since joining the brigade in 2007, Xue has built up extensive experience responding to disasters across Anhui. In the north, he has tackled recurring floods along the Huaihe River, while in the mountainous south, he has dealt with flash floods, landslides and other hazards triggered by severe rain.

That regional experience has taught him to anticipate how disasters may unfold. Areas such as Huangshan, Xuancheng and Anqing are particularly vulnerable because of their terrain, while northern Anhui faces persistent flood risks along the Huaihe River."

A deep understanding of local geography is essential during a rescue task, because natural disasters can become life-threatening within minutes," he said.

One of the missions that left the deepest impression on Xue was the devastating flooding in Huangshan in 2024, when days of unusually heavy rain cut three villages off from the outside world.

"The only road into the villages was a narrow mountain path, with steep slopes on one side and a fast-flowing river on the other," he recalled. "After landslides buried the road, we had to trek across unstable debris while the rain continued. Every step carried the risk of triggering another collapse."

Xue took part in an advance reconnaissance operation, in which highly mobile teams travel by helicopter or off-road vehicle, or proceed on foot to reach disaster areas ahead of larger rescue forces. Such teams are sent in when roads are blocked, communications are disrupted or conditions remain highly dangerous.

When public communications networks fail, they deploy an emergency private radio terminal to transmit live images and data from the scene. This gives headquarters a clearer picture of conditions on the ground and helps guide the next stage of the rescue.

Despite the danger, Xue said hesitation never crossed his mind. "Our only thought was to reach the disaster area as quickly as possible, assess the situation and report back, so the command center could make timely decisions and mobilize additional rescue teams," he said.

Lessons from such missions are shared across the force, becoming practical knowledge passed from veteran firefighters to younger rescuers.

"Our officers and veteran firefighters have taken part in years of frontline rescue work and accumulated invaluable experience. They teach younger firefighters the safest and most effective rescue methods," Yao noted.

Many of those lessons came at a high cost. "Some comrades lost their lives or suffered serious injuries," Yao said. "By passing on their experience, we hope younger rescuers can avoid making the same mistakes."

Passing lessons on

As veteran firefighters share lessons learned in the field, younger rescuers are being asked to master increasingly complex equipment and take on demanding technical and command roles.

Among them is Migmar Tsering, a technical officer with the Shigatse fire and rescue mobile brigade in the Xizang autonomous region. Born in the 2000s, he represents a younger generation preparing to lead rescue operations under extreme pressure.

One of the greatest challenges in responding to a large-scale disaster is the expertise required of commanders, according to Migmar Tsering. They must quickly formulate rescue plans, organize personnel and allocate equipment, often with little time and incomplete information.

"Modern fire and rescue operations involve thousands of pieces of equipment," he said. "Commanders must understand how every type of equipment works, what it can do and how it performs."

"It is a tremendous test of command capability," he added.

Technical knowledge alone, however, is not enough. Migmar Tsering said frontline rescuers must also remain calm as conditions change around them.

During a forest fire, for example, a sudden shift in wind direction can carry embers downhill and cause the flames to spread back uphill toward firefighters.

"Without solid professional skills and psychological resilience, panic can quickly worsen physical exhaustion. In steep mountain terrain, that can be extremely dangerous," he said, adding that prolonged exposure to intense heat can also put firefighters at risk of severe dehydration.

Even after the last survivor is brought to safety, the work is far from over.

During the initial emergency response, firefighters focus on rescuing trapped residents. Once everyone has been evacuated, they may spend another six or seven days searching through debris for personal belongings and helping families recover as much property as possible.

"Floods, forest fires and other major natural disasters are all high-intensity, high-risk missions," he noted. "They demand perseverance, discipline and resilience. Those qualities are essential to carrying out rescue operations safely and effectively."

Despite the hardships, Migmar Tsering said he has never regretted choosing the profession.

"You have to truly love this job," he said. "Our mission is simple: serve the people, stand with them and always put their needs first."

As he became more deeply involved with the team, Migmar Tsering said, he gradually developed a strong sense of belonging and pride in its unity, traditions and achievements.

guojiatong@i21st.cn