Photo/Illutration Residents return to fire-damaged homes after the evacuation order is lifted in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, on March 10. (Ken Komiya)

OFUNATO, Iwate Prefecture—All remaining evacuation orders in this city were lifted at 10 a.m. on March 10 after the wildfire that had been raging for 12 days here was finally brought under control.

Ofunato city announced at 5 p.m. on March 9 that the blaze was unlikely to further expand, thanks to the joint efforts by the city, fire departments of other prefectures, and the Self-Defense Forces.

The announcement came after the chief of the Ofunato Fire Station and the city mayor monitored the forest fire by helicopter and determined the fire, which has burned about 9 percent of Ofunato’s area, was under control.

The city will continue dousing the flames and staying vigilant against possible flare-ups.

“From now on, we will focus on supporting the victims and remain on alert to extinguish the fires,” Mayor Kiyoshi Fuchigami said at a news conference on March 9. “I would like to express my gratitude once again to all the disaster prevention agencies.”

Fuchigami and other city officials then bowed their heads.

At one point during the fire, which started on Feb. 26, around 4,600 residents were under orders to evacuate. The city started to partially lift the orders on March 7.

At 10 a.m. on March 10, the remaining evacuation orders, issued to 2,424 residents, were lifted for all areas.

Although the number of evacuation centers will likely decrease, the city plans to continue offering shelter for residents whose houses were destroyed by the fire.

The wildfire razed about 2,900 hectares and killed at least one person.

The number of buildings confirmed to have been hit by the fire increased from 78 to 210, including 102 homes, as of noon on March 9.

Of the homes, 76 were destroyed and 26 were severely damaged. There was no damage to public facilities.

The water supply is expected to remain suspended in parts of the Ryori area of Sanriku town and Akasaki town as screenings to ensure safe drinking water continue.

The city plans to keep operating its disaster response headquarters. Emergency firefighting assistance teams from outside Iwate Prefecture will continue to patrol and conduct firefighting activities.

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