Taipei City Construction Management Office

During the Tomb Sweeping Festival, the frequent tomb-sweeping and ancestral worship activities lead to an increased risk of fires in cemetery areas, prompting Taipei City Fire Department to fully upgrade its technological disaster prevention capabilities this year. In addition to continuing disaster reduction measures such as "Fire-free tomb sweeping" and "Centralized burning of joss paper," the department has introduced drone-based high-altitude patrols and thermal monitoring mechanisms, which, combined with ground-level alerts and patrols, enhance early fire detection and real-time response efficiency in cemetery zones.

The fire department stated that drones are planned for high-altitude surveillance in this year, utilizing preset flight paths to expand the coverage area and employing multi-stage zoom lenses alongside thermal imaging technology to identify abnormal heat sources and smoke in real-time. This allows for the rapid determination of fire locations, fire scale, and potential spread directions, significantly shortening search times and effectively enhancing on-site response efficiency. At the same time, through cross-agency horizontal communication and information sharing, the department has integrated resources from the Department of Information and Tourism, Department of Environmental Protection, Police Department, Mortuary Services Office, Geotechnical Engineering Office to clear weeds and combustibles in cemetery areas ahead of time. These efforts, which include strengthened patrols and public outreach, form a "three-in-one" fire prevention strategy encompassing technological monitoring, ground-level surveillance, and environmental management, thereby comprehensively reinforcing safety and protection capabilities throughout the cemetery zones.

To minimize the risk of fire, the public is urged to adopt fire-free tomb-sweeping practices by manually clearing weeds and properly bagging them for disposal; additionally, joss paper should be handled through centralized incineration services, or replaced with alternatives such as "Donations instead of joss paper " or "Rice instead of joss paper," while avoiding firecrackers, the improper disposal of cigarette butts, and ensuring all trash is taken away to reduce the accumulation of combustibles. Any fire caused by the burning of joss paper or weeds that results in air pollution or casualties will be strictly investigated and penalized in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

The fire department reminds citizens to make good use of digital disaster prevention tools by downloading the “Taipei City Disaster Prevention App” and the “The First Scene App” in advance to receive real-time push notifications regarding weather changes and disaster information; such technology enhances self-protection and immediate response capabilities, making it a vital partner in ensuring safety. We urge the public to balance the tradition of honoring ancestors with public safety and environmental protection, taking practical action to reduce fire risks and working together to maintain the safety of our city and the peace of our homes.