Photo/Illutration A wildfire burns a forest in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, on Feb. 25. (The Asahi Shimbun)

Whether it's a bonfire or a portable camping stove, there is something magical and deliciously warm about any fire that is lit in the mountains.

"For any solo hiker, a bonfire is their most taciturn yet merriest companion," wrote Ryokichi Oshima (1899-1928), a mountaineer who died young. "Therefore," he continued, "light a fire when you feel lonely and gaze at its cheerful face."

But that cheerfulness can also unleash destructive and terrifying power.

A wildfire that started on Feb. 21 near Mount Ryogaisan in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, continues to rage. The cause is thought to be a hiker handling fire irresponsibly.

The dry air rendered the trees more flammable than usual to begin with, but matters were made worse by the flames being fanned by strong gusts, nicknamed "Akagi-oroshi" by the locals.

With the blaze getting closer to some homes, a series of evacuation orders are being issued to residents. The TV footage of flames dancing in the darkness of the night is eerie and scary. I can only imagine the fear of the people out there.

Most news of recent major wildfires has come from abroad, including the United States and Australia, but Japan also had a catastrophic event in 1971. It was in Kure in Hiroshima Prefecture, where 18 firefighters perished.

According to "Naze Hito no Tame ni Inochi wo Kakerunoka" (Why people stake their lives for others) by Akira Nakazawa, who chronicled the disaster and its aftermath, the fire broke out after a week of bone-dry weather.

Back then, the standard firefighting method was to chase the flames and pound them into extinction, which put firefighters at great risk.

Many bitter lessons must have been learned before today's advanced firefighting technology and maneuvers were developed.

But nothing can change the fundamental menace of wildfires.

Helicopters continue spraying water on the Tochigi site, but The Asahi Shimbun's digital edition quoted the mayor of Ashikaga as saying, "Ultimately, firefighters will have to go into the mountains with tanks of water on their backs and extinguish sparks, one by one."

I can't wait for the rain to come. 

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 26

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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