JAPAN FOREST FIRE DRIVES THOUSANDS FROM HOMES

Thu 27 February 2025:

A wildfire in northeastern Japan led to the evacuation of thousands of alarmed residents, caused damage to structures, and triggered the deployment of military helicopters to combat the intense fire, local media reported on Thursday.

Aerial footage from public broadcaster NHK showed a helicopter dumping water on one of multiple locations in forested areas of the city of Ofunato in the Iwate prefecture in an attempt to douse the blaze.

The fire has so far burned at least 84 buildings and forced 2,000 residents to evacuate.

Japan forest fire drives thousands from homes

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Rescuers found a burned body in the area, with police investigating its possible link to the wildfire.

More NHK footage showed the fire reducing several houses in various locations to charred frames.

Kiyoshi Fuchigami, the mayor of Ofunato, described the fire as “large-scale,” saying strong winds from the west helped spread a series of smaller wildfires in the same area.

So far, around 600 hectares (1,500 acres) of land have been burned.

A wildfire previously broke out in Ofunato on Feb. 19 and was largely extinguished by Tuesday. A second blaze occurred in neighboring Rikuzentakata on Tuesday and was contained by around Wednesday noon.

The cause of the blaze remained unknown.

Japan in 2023 saw about 1,300 wildfires.

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Japan’s wildfire history stretches back centuries, tied to its dense forests and wooden cities. During the Edo period (1603–1868), fires ravaged cities like Edo (now Tokyo), with the Great Fire of Meireki in 1657 killing over 100,000 and destroying 60-70% of the city.

These urban blazes, often sparked by accidents or arson, were worsened by flammable buildings and strong winds. In modern times, Japan’s 25 million hectares of forest—covering 67% of its land—face thousands of wildfires yearly, mostly human-caused.

The 20th century saw devastating urban fires shift to forest blazes, like the 2003 Siberian fires impacting Japan’s northeast. Climate change now fuels longer fire seasons, with lightning and dry spells adding to risks. Japan’s response? Advanced firefighting, like military helicopters and eco-friendly foam, plus lessons from history shaping today’s prevention strategies. Wildfires remain a persistent challenge in this forested nation.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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