Outdoor fire

Every effort must be made to quickly extinguish the wildfire in northeast Japan's Iwate Prefecture, and everything possible done to support residents forced to live as evacuees.It has been one week since a forest fire broke out in the town of Otsuchi. The blaze spread at two locations, and the burned area has reached 1,633 hectares. It is the second largest such fire in Japan since the Heisei era (1989-2019).
Firefighting support teams that rushed in from around the country, local firefighters and Self-Defense Forces units have continued battling the blaze from the ground and the air. Helped by rainfall, the town says it has "passed the most critical phase," but the fire has not been brought under control.Several factors overlapped to turn this into a large-scale wildfire.On the day the fire broke out, advisories had been issued for dry conditions and strong winds. The steep terrain, characteristic of the local coastal region, makes it easy for flames to spread both uphill and downhill, and strong winds are common as well. Pine and cedar in coniferous forests contain large amounts of oil, and it is possible that wind-whipped flames spread virtually instantaneously.Evacuation orders were issued for 3,257 people -- 30% of Otsuchi's residents. In some cases, flames approached evacuation shelters, forcing people to relocate. There are also concerns about health damage from smoke. Careful attention is essential to prevent health damage to older people and others vulnerable to environmental changes.The timing also overlapped with an advisory on precautions for a possible subsequent major earthquake, which had been in effect through April 27 following an earthquake centered off northeast Japan's Sanriku coast. On top of fears of an earthquake and tsunami, residents struck by fire are under stress beyond measure.Forest fires tend to occur most often every year from February through May, the season for dry air and strong winds.In a fire that broke out in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, in February last year, about 3,370 hectares burned and there was a fatality. This year as well, fires have broken out in Yamanashi and Fukushima prefectures, and evacuation orders have been issued. Vigilance is required in every region.Once a fire spreads, it is difficult to extinguish. Raising awareness of prevention is crucial. Many fires are caused by human activity, such as bonfires and the burning of agricultural fields.
When fire is used outdoors, it must be fully extinguished afterward, and on windy days people must take precautions such as not lighting fires at all. Local governments have begun issuing forest fire warnings and advisories, and those efforts should be thoroughly publicized.
Large-scale forest fires have been occurring around the world, including in Los Angeles. Structural problems such as global warming have also been pointed out as part of the backdrop, and countermeasures need to be strengthened.