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Mt. Ougi Wildfire Swells to 74 Hectares as Evacuations Expand in Yamanashi

Helicopter drops paused in gusts during an investigation of a likely human ignition.

Overview

  • As of late Jan. 11, officials reported about 74 hectares burned on Mt. Ougi, with flames reaching roughly 30 meters from some homes and no injuries confirmed.
  • Uenohara ordered evacuations for 77 households totaling about 145 people, and a few residents moved to shelters as ground crews worked through the evening.
  • Multiple prefectural disaster helicopters and Ground Self-Defense Force aircraft conducted water drops, though aerial operations were intermittently halted by wind and nightfall.
  • Prolonged dryness, including no measurable rain locally since Dec. 25, contributed to rapid spread after earlier estimates of roughly 50 hectares burned the same day.
  • Separate wildfires in Kanagawa’s Hadano and Gunma’s Kiryu prompted additional SDF disaster dispatch requests, with both incidents reporting no injuries.