Photo/Illutration A man, 72, watches the Akasakicho district of Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, where rain obscures the smoke on March 6. His previous house was destroyed by the tsunami that followed the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. “The power of nature is terrifying,” he said. (Koichiro Yoshida)

OFUNATO, Iwate Prefecture—Rain fell here for the first time since a now-raging forest fire started nine days ago, but the precipitation stopped on the morning of March 6.

The rainfall that began on March 5 helped to contain the spread of the fire, but the blaze was still not under control the following day.

The forecast for March 6 was cloudy during the day, with rain or snow in the evening. Maximum wind speeds of 21.6 kph were expected on land, according to the Morioka Local Meteorological Office.

Sunny or cloudy skies are forecast for some time from March 7, with a low probability of precipitation.

Water-drop helicopter operations were suspended on March 5 due to the bad weather, but the Self-Defense Forces and other entities resumed the battle from the sky in the morning.

On the ground, several fire trucks were seen moving through the streets of Ofunato with their sirens blaring.

A man in his 60s who evacuated from his home in the city’s Akasakicho district feared that the fire would come from behind a forest and approach his house.

“Yesterday, I saw a fire around 4 a.m., but by the time the sun rose, it was just blue-white smoke,” he said, looking toward his home. “This morning, I can’t even see the smoke. The fire must be almost out.”

He could also see snow on the top of mountains in the area where his house is located.

“There is still some snow. If the fire goes out, I hope I can go home next week. It would be nice if we could at least go home temporarily,” he said.

At a news conference on the morning of March 6, Ofunato officials said the city was starting to consider lifting the evacuation order for part of the Akasakicho district near Ofunato Bay.

But no date has been set.

“The most important point to judge is how the fire will spread,” an official said. “If we can determine that the fire is unlikely to spread and that it will have little impact on residences, we will be able to lift the evacuation order.”

The official said other areas in the city are not being considered for a lifting of the evacuation order because of the severity of the fire and smoke.

According to local fire officials, white smoke was observed during a reconnaissance flight on the morning of March 6 in three areas of Ryori in the city’s Sanrikucho district.

Helicopters were fighting the flames over these areas.

“We have received reports that the spread of the fire has not been as large as on March 4,” a fire official said. “We are aware that daily firefighting activities and yesterday’s rain have weakened the fire, but there is still no prospect of suppression.”

According to the Iwate prefectural government, evacuation orders have been issued for 4,596 people from 1,896 households, or about 15 percent of the city’s population.

Evacuation centers have opened in 12 locations, including an elementary school gymnasium, where 1,239 people have taken refuge.

In addition, 3,055 people are staying at the homes of relatives and acquaintances or in their cars.

The prefectural government said the total area burned as of 6 a.m. on March 6 was about 2,900 hectares, unchanged from the previous day.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on March 6 expressed his intention to apply the Natural Disaster Victims Relief Law to the forest fire in Ofunato.

The central and prefectural governments are expected to make an announcement in the afternoon.

Once the law is applied, victims can receive assistance to rebuild their houses that were destroyed by the fire.

As for whether the fire should be designated as a severe disaster, Ishiba said an assessment will be made quickly using satellite photos and other information.

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