Photo/Illutration Smoke rises from a mountain fire in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, as snow and rain continue to fall early on March 5 and firetruck sirens echo in the distance. (Jin Nishioka)

OFUNATO, Iwate Prefecture—Much-needed rain finally arrived here on March 5, raising hopes that firefighters can slow a raging wildfire that entered its eighth day.

The Morioka Local Meteorological Observatory has forecast rain or snow throughout the day, and precipitation is expected to continue into March 6.

As of 6 a.m. on March 5, the forest fire had burned about 2,900 hectares, covering roughly 9 percent of Ofunato’s total area, according to the Iwate prefectural government.

Smoke continued to emerge from multiple locations in the mountains. The smoke had been rising high into the sky, but it now hangs low over the area.

Evacuation orders remain in place for 1,896 households, affecting 4,596 residents, or around 15 percent of the city’s population.

As of 7 p.m. on March 4, 1,225 people were still in 12 evacuation centers. At least 2,805 others were staying with relatives, friends or in their vehicles as of 4 p.m.

The prefecture’s southern coastal region, including the forest fire zone, had been under a dry weather advisory for 15 consecutive days since Feb. 18.

But a low-pressure system and a passing front have now brought rain to the region.

However, the poor weather conditions could hinder the operations of helicopters that are dumping water on the blaze.

“It’s hard to say how much of an impact the rain will have,” a fire official said.

Despite the efforts by firefighters and Self-Defense Forces on both the ground and in the air, there are still no signs of containment.

According to fire officials, the fire is burning oil-rich pine trees, making it difficult to extinguish the flames even with water.

Thick layers of fallen leaves, dry branches and other forms of kindling have accumulated, so even if the flames on the surface are doused, embers hidden beneath the leaves could reignite and spread the fire again, the officials said.

“Wildfires are less likely to occur when the mountains are covered in snow,” said Koji Tamai, a research director at the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture. “However, this year, snowfall (in Iwate Prefecture) has been extremely low.”

Akira Kato, an associate professor at Chiba University who is well-versed in wildfire mechanisms, said three key factors contribute to forest fires.

The first factor is reduced snowfall and prolonged dryness.

The second factor is a lack of undergrowth management, as depopulation has left many forest floors across the country neglected.

The third factor is the steep, rugged terrain of the Sanriku coastline in Ofunato, which makes it even easier for fires to spread.

Kato said these three conditions are all evident around Ofunato, which has allowed the wildfire to more easily rage out of control.

(This article was written by Takemichi Nishibori and Yoshikazu Sato.)

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