Mon Mar 03 08:19:28 UTC 2025: ## Japan Battles Largest Wildfire in 30 Years, Thousands Evacuated
**Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, Japan** – A devastating wildfire raging in northern Japan’s Iwate prefecture has forced the evacuation of thousands and claimed at least one life. The blaze, the largest in the country in three decades, has consumed approximately 5,200 acres (2,100 hectares) since igniting last Thursday near the city of Ofunato.
Over 2,000 firefighters, supported by 16 military helicopters, are battling the inferno, which officials say is the largest since a 1992 wildfire in Kushiro. Approximately 4,600 residents remain under evacuation advisories, with around 2,000 seeking refuge with friends and family, and over 1,200 in evacuation shelters. At least 84 buildings have been damaged.
The fire is attributed to a combination of record-low rainfall – Ofunato saw only 2.5mm of rain in February, a record low – and last year’s record-breaking summer heat, factors exacerbated by climate change. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pledged that all possible measures would be taken to prevent further damage to homes.
While the number of wildfires in Japan has declined since the 1970s, the country experienced approximately 1,300 incidents in 2023, concentrated in the drier months of February to April. The ongoing situation highlights the increasing impact of climate change on Japan’s natural environment and underscores the urgent need for effective wildfire prevention and mitigation strategies.
First Piper 