Japan’s Largest Wildfire in Decades: Burnt Almost 6,400 Acres of Land!

Japan’s Largest Wildfire in Decades: Burnt Almost 6,400 Acres of Land!

CLIMATE CHANGE

KAKALI DAS

Wildfires are no longer rare seasonal occurrences; they have evolved into relentless, year-round catastrophes. In Japan, five firefighters are fighting desperately against the nation’s most severe wildfires in half a century.

The fire started five days ago, triggered by the record-low rainfall in February that left the land dangerously dry.

Ofunato recorded only 2.5 millimetres (0.1 inches) of rainfall last month. The extreme dryness, coupled with strong winds, has significantly hindered firefighting efforts.

Over 2,000 firefighters, including reinforcements from Tokyo, are battling the flames from both the air and the ground. Military and fire department helicopters have been deployed to douse the fire, but officials warn that containment remains uncertain.

“Without intervention, both Japan and California could face even more devastating fire seasons in the years ahead. As Japan’s firefighters continue their battle and California begins to rebuild, one thing is clear—wildfires are no longer isolated disasters. They are a warning of what lies ahead in a rapidly changing climate.”

The northern Japanese city of Ofunato is at the epicentre of an unprecedented wildfire. The blaze has claimed one life, displaced nearly 4,000 residents, and destroyed at least 80 buildings.

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However, officials have been unable to fully assess the extent of the wildfire damage to homes and businesses due to the proximity of the flames, thick black smoke filling the air, and hazardous driving conditions.

As of Tuesday, the wildfire had scorched approximately 2,600 hectares (6,400 acres) of land, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA). This makes it Japan’s largest wildfire since 1975, when 2,700 hectares burned in Kushiro on Hokkaido Island.

“Although it is inevitable that the fire will spread to some extent, we will take all possible measures to ensure there will be no impact on people’s homes,” Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said in parliament.

Climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events. Last year, Japan experienced its hottest summer on record. Experts warn that the combination of rising temperatures and prolonged dry spells could turn wildfires into a recurring threat.

Scientists have long warned that climate change is lengthening fire seasons. Nowhere is this more evident than in California, where wildfires have become a devastating natural reality.

On January 7, two massive wildfires—the Palisades and Eaton fires—erupted in Los Angeles County. The blazes claimed at least 30 lives, destroyed over 10,000 homes, and scorched more than 37,000 acres of land.

These wildfires, considered the most destructive in the city’s history, raged for over three weeks before firefighters declared them fully contained.

Though Japan and California are on opposite sides of the Pacific, their wildfire struggles highlight a shared reality. Climate change is reshaping the global fire landscape, with once-rare infernos becoming routine, fuelled by rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and human activity.

Without intervention, both Japan and California could face even more devastating fire seasons in the years ahead. As Japan’s firefighters continue their battle and California begins to rebuild, one thing is clear—wildfires are no longer isolated disasters. They are a warning of what lies ahead in a rapidly changing climate.

04-03-2025

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