TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan will designate Jan. 19 as a national Firefighters’ Day holiday starting next year.

The new holiday is intended to honor the dedication and sacrifice of firefighting personnel nationwide. Further details, including whether the holiday applies to both frontline and administrative staff, will be released at a later date, CNA reported.

As of February, Taiwan had 17,732 active firefighters out of 19,546 authorized positions, with a firefighter-to-population ratio of approximately 1 to 1,319. Most fire departments follow a two-shift rotation and guarantee at least 15 days off per month for shift workers, according to the National Fire Agency.

From January to November 2024, Taiwan’s fire departments responded to 1.2 million emergency medical service calls. This represents an average of about 3,600 dispatches per day, or one every 24 seconds, according to the Cabinet.

The new holiday is intended to recognize the year-round service and critical frontline work of firefighters, mirroring the recent introduction of Police Day leave, observed annually on June 15.  

Jan. 19 aligns with Taiwan’s emergency number “119.” The date was first designated in 1973 and formally adopted in 1995 following the establishment of the National Fire Agency.