二二八事件期間消防隊員的角色

Role of Fire Brigades in 228 Incident of 1947

二二八事件期間，各地消防隊乃是協助警察局維護地方秩序的群眾自衛團體，其組織性質介於各地警察局和一般民眾之間。用是，本文探討重點有二：其一，探討二二八事件期間各地消防隊的角色、遭遇及發展；其二，究明戰後至1947年各地群眾自衛團體形成的歷史淵源。本研究結果顯示，二二八事件爆發後，日治末年所形成的緊急處理事變機制發揮作用，義勇消防隊成為地方上賴以維持治安的團體之一，有些地方利用向來通知火災和空襲警報的設備作為發布緊急訊息之工具，或利用消防車作為攻擊武器。各地二二八事件處理委員會成立後，不少消防隊幹部及隊員被網羅加入該會保安、警備或消防組（部），負責維持地方秩序。大多數的消防隊成員都奉地方行政機關或警察局之命，協助維持地方治安。綏靖清鄉期間，有些地方消防隊幹部成員因在二二八事件處理委員會表現活躍，而遭到政府當局追究責任，紛紛被羅織罪名入獄。幸而經一般法院調查審理後，大多被羈押數月即獲釋放。

During the 228 Incident of 1947, volunteer fire brigades became nongovernmental self-defense organizations that assisted the police in enforcing law and order in Taiwan. This article investigates the emergence of volunteer fire brigades in Taiwan as well as their role and experiences during the 228 Incident. Moreover, it traces the history and development of these self-defense organizations from post-World War II until 1947. It was found that following the outbreak of the 228 Incident, the contingency management system established toward the end of the Japanese colonial era became operational, with volunteer fire brigades functioning as paramilitary groups for maintaining law and order. In some cities, the fire/air raid alarm system was employed to broadcast emergency alerts while fire engines were utilized as weapons for attack. With 228 Incident Settlement Committees set up all over Taiwan, many members from the volunteer fire brigades were recruited to join the security, guard and fire departments. In fact, most members of the fire brigade were made responsible by the local administration or the police department to maintain public order. However, some of those active fire brigade members in the 228 Incident Settlement Committee were later prosecuted and arrested by the authority. Nonetheless, most were detained for several months and eventually released after trial and investigation.