Editorial

16:08 JST, December 18, 2025

Forest fires have occurred in various parts of the country. They are generally caused by people, such as when they make bonfires. Once forest fires start, they take a long time to extinguish. First, it is essential to strengthen measures to prevent fires from breaking out.

This month, a fire broke out on Mt. Myogi in Tomioka, Gunma Prefecture, and another occurred on Mt. Hinata, spanning the cities of Isehara and Atsugi in Kanagawa Prefecture. Both prefectural governments requested that the Self-Defense Forces be deployed on disaster response missions.

In February, a forest fire in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, burned 3,370 hectares, the largest such fire in Japan since the Heisei era (1989-2019). It took over 40 days to extinguish, and 226 structures, including homes, were burned down. In March, large forest fires also........

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