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2026 Ōtsuchi wildfires

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2026 Ōtsuchi wildfires
Part of Wildfires in 2026
A CH-47J dropping water at the fire
Date
  • April 22, 2026 – May 29, 2026[a] (38 days)
  • (JST)
LocationŌtsuchi, Iwate, Japan
Coordinates39°22′19″N 141°54′07″E / 39.372°N 141.902°E / 39.372; 141.902
Statistics
Burned area1,633 hectares (4,040 acres; 16.33 km2; 6.31 sq mi) (total)[b][c]
Impacts
Injuries2
Evacuated3,233
Structures destroyed8
Ignition
CauseUnder investigation
Map
2026 Ōtsuchi wildfires is located in Iwate Prefecture
2026 Ōtsuchi wildfires
Location within Iwate Prefecture
2026 Ōtsuchi wildfires is located in Japan
2026 Ōtsuchi wildfires
Location within Japan

On April 22, 2026, two wildfires broke out in Ōtsuchi, Iwate, Japan. It is the second-largest fire in Japan, behind the 2025 Ōfunato wildfire, in forty years since the Heisei era.[4] It burned 1,633 hectares (4,040 acres)[c] or about 8% of the town's area before being completely extinguished on May 29.[a] The fire burned eight buildings, resulting in the injury of two people, and caused the evacuation of 3,233 people, about one-third of the town's population.

Background

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The Sanriku region is vulnerable to wildfires.[5] Wildfires in Japan are relatively rare.[6] Prior to the fire, there had only been two fires in Japan since the Heisei era that exceeded 1,000 hectares: the wildfire that broke out in Ōfunato, Iwate Prefecture, in February 2025, which was one of the largest fires in Japan and consumed 3,370 hectares (8,300 acres), and the Kushiro wildfire in 1992, which burned 1,030 hectares (2,500 acres).[7][8][9] A strong wind warning was issued on April 22, 2026, in Ōtsuchi, Iwate.[5]

Progession

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Main wildfires

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At 13:53 JST (UTC+9) on April 22, 2026, a forest fire broke out in the Kozuchi district of Ōtsuchi, Iwate, in the mountains about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) northwest of the town center. At 16:22, a second fire broke out near the Kirikiri Tunnel on National Route 45 in the Kirikiri District, 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) east of the town center.[10][11][5] It spread westward due to strong winds during the night, and by 21:00, it had burned at least 95,000 square metres (23 acres) in total.[12] By 06:00, the fire burned at least 200 hectares (490 acres) of the forest.[13][14] At 18:00, the fire burned at least 431 hectares (1,070 acres).[13] At 6:00 of April 24, the fire grew to 730 hectares (1,800 acres).[15] At 18:00, the fire burned at least 1,176 hectares (2,910 acres), more than five times since the day before.[16][17] At 06:00 on April 26, it expanded to approximately 1,373 hectares (3,390 acres) in total.[18] It grew to 1,618 hectares (4,000 acres) by 06:00 on April 27.[19][20]

A rain slowed down the growth of the fire and according to fire department, the fire was "generally under control".[21] Despite the rain, the fire grew 15 hectares (37 acres) on April 28, totalling to 1,633 hectares (4,040 acres) or about 8% of the town's area.[22][2] On April 30, the Iwate Prefectural Government confirmed that the growth of the fire had been stopped,[23] but the fire was still not extinguished because the fire department still reported the presence of heat sources.[24] At 13:00 on May 2, it was declared that the fire was "under control".[10][25]

After May 2

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At 13:30 on May 6, a new forest fire broke out about 150 metres (490 ft) north of the Shiroyama Park Gymnasium near the town hall. According to the prefectural government, it was believed to have weakened the momentum of the fire due to the continued firefighting.[26][27] It was extinguished on 9:00 on May 7.[28] The fire burned an additional 2 hectares (4.9 acres).[3] A white smoke was seen rising on May 14 in the Sawayama district of the town. The fire was quickly extinguished. According to the fire department, no new heat source nor smoke was detected a week leading up to May 22.[1] At 13:00 on May 29, the fire had been declared as completely extinguished, stating that there is no risk of re-ignition.[4]

Response

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On the evening of April 22, fire trucks from nearby towns were requested. On the morning of April 23, Iwate Prefecture's disaster relief helicopters were deployed to extinguish the fire and apply the Disaster Relief Act. By 18:00, 219 people had taken refuge in three evacuation centers.[5][14] At 16:00, the prefecture requested help from the Japan Self-Defense Forces.[29] By 17:00, Evacuation orders to 2,588 people in 1,229 households in the Kirikiri District of the town.[14] On April 24, firefighters from Yokohama City, Tokyo Metropolis, Hokkaido, Niigata, Fukushima, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Aomori, Akita, Yamagata, and Miyagi Prefecture have been deployed.[30][31][16] By April 25, about 1,000 firefighters were deployed and requested the evacuation of 3,233 residents, a third of the town's population.[16][17] As of April 27, 1,400 firefighters were deployed in the fire.[19] On April 29, Ōtsuchi mayor Kozo Hirano lifted the evacuation order in town, excluding the Nagai and Kozushi district area.[32] All evacuation orders were lifted on April 30.[33] On May 29, the fire was designated by the Japanese government as a "localized severe disaster". Ōtsuchi will received government subsidies to cover the costs of the recovery.[34]

Impact

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Satellite image of the fire by European Space Agency

The fire was described as one of the worst mountain wildfire disasters in Japan in decades.[7] It is the second largest wildfire in Japan since the start of the Heisei era in 1989, behind the Ōfunato wildfire in February 2025 in Ōfunato in the same prefecture.[35][36][37][38]

Sanriku Railway suspended train services between Kamaishi and Iwate-Funakoshi stations.[29] It resumed services on April 29.[39] A section of the Sanriku Expressway from Yamada-Minami Interchange [ja] to Ōtsuchi Interchange [ja] was closed.[40] A portion of the National Route 25 in Ōtsuchi was also closed. Several businesses in the town were also closed. Classes across the town were also cancelled. NTT Docomo mobile services in the area have been unavailable or difficult to use since around 5 pm of April 22 in the Kirikiri and Kozuchi districts of the town.[5][12]

According to the town's official, by April 25, the fire burned eight buildings, including a warehouse and a house.[16][17] One woman in her 60s was injured after falling down the stairs in an evacuation area.[13][5] A Firefighter in his 40s was injured in his right arm.[19]

Investigation

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On May 12, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency started the investigation of the causes of the fire.[41] On May 16, Minister of Disaster Management Jiro Akama inspected the area.[42]

See also

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Notes

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  1. 1 2 The fire was declared to have been "under control" on May 2.[1]
  2. ↑
    • Kirikiri District: 1,187 hectares (2,930 acres; 11.87 km2; 4.58 sq mi)[2]
    • Kozuchi District: 446 hectares (1,100 acres; 4.46 km2; 1.72 sq mi)[2]
  3. 1 2 This excludes the separate fire that broke out on May 6 that burned 2 hectares (4.9 acres; 20,000 m2; 220,000 sq ft).[3]

References

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  1. 1 2 岩手 大槌町山林火災１か月 消防は少なくとも来週まで調査 [One month has passed since the forest fire in Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture. Firefighters will continue their investigation until at least next week.]. NHK (in Japanese). May 22, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 岩手 大槌町の山林火災 消防“火の勢い おおむね制御下” [Forest fire in Otsuchi town, Iwate Prefecture: Firefighters say "the fire is largely under control."]. NHK (in Japanese). April 28, 2026. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  3. 1 2 岩手・大槌町中心部の山林火災、鎮圧 2ヘクタール焼損、延焼の恐れなし [A forest fire in the central area of Otsuchi town, Iwate Prefecture, has been brought under control; 2 hectares were burned, but there is no risk of it spreading.]. Kahoku Shimpō (in Japanese). May 7, 2026. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  4. 1 2 Higashino, Masakazu (May 29, 2026). 岩手・大槌町の山林火災「鎮火」 発生38日目、町面積の8%超焼損 [Forest fire in Otsuchi town, Iwate Prefecture, "extinguished" after 38 days; more than 8% of the town's area burned.]. The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 岩手 大槌町の山林火災 延焼続く 夜を徹して消火活動や警戒へ [Forest fire in Otsuchi town, Iwate Prefecture continues to spread; firefighting and vigilance efforts continue throughout the night.]. NHK (in Japanese). April 23, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Japan wildfires rage: Over 1,000 firefighters battle flames as 3,000 flee Otsuchi". The Indian Express. April 25, 2026. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  7. 1 2 Shweta, Sharma (April 25, 2026). "Thousands evacuate in Japan as forest fires close in on homes". The Independent. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  8. ↑ ""大規模山火事"なぜ岩手で起きる？ 消防団が手作業で…最新映像" ["Large-scale wildfire" Why does it happen in Iwate? The fire brigade is done by hand... The latest video]. TV Asahi (in Japanese). April 27, 2026. Archived from the original on April 27, 2026. Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via Yahoo! News Japan.
  9. ↑ Okasaka, Kentaro (April 25, 2026). "Firefighters in northern Japan struggle to contain blazes as over 3,000 people evacuated". Reuters. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  10. 1 2 岩手県大槌町の林野火災による被害及び 消防機関等の対応状況（第21報） [Damage caused by forest fire in Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture and the response of fire departments, etc. (Report No. 20)] (PDF). Fire and Disaster Management Agency (in Japanese). May 4, 2026. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  11. ↑ 岩手県大槌町の山林火災、平成以降２番目の規模 ２９日で発生１週間、鎮圧見通せず [The forest fire in Otsuchi-cho, Iwate Prefecture, the second largest since Heisei, occurred in the 29th, a week later, and the suppression was not seen.]. Jiji Press (in Japanese). April 29, 2026. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  12. 1 2 岩手 大槌町の山林火災延焼続く 消火活動23日朝に再開へ [Forest fire continues to spread in Otsuchi town, Iwate Prefecture; firefighting efforts to resume on the morning of the 23rd.]. NHK (in Japanese). April 22, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 岩手・大槌町内2か所で発生の山林火災 東の風で街中心部も煙に覆われる 収束の見通し立たず [Forest fires have broken out in two locations in Otsuchi town, Iwate Prefecture. Eastern winds are covering the town center in smoke. There is no end in sight to the fires.]. TBS News (in Japanese). April 24, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2026.[dead link]
  14. 1 2 3 Higashino, Masakazu; Sakata, Tatsuro (April 23, 2026). 岩手・大槌の山林火災、2588人避難指示 200ヘクタール超焼損 [Forest fire in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture: 2,588 people ordered to evacuate; over 200 hectares burned.]. The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  15. ↑ 岩手・大槌の山林火災は延焼続く、焼損計１３７３ヘクタールに拡大…これまで公表の２倍近い面積に [The forest fire in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, continues to spread, burning a total of 1,373 hectares—nearly double the area previously reported.]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). April 26, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  16. 1 2 3 4 岩手・大槌の山林火災、焼失面積１１００ヘクタール超に拡大…「この生活いつまで」「町の壊滅が怖い」 [Forest fire in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, has spread to burn over 1,100 hectares... "How long will this life continue?" "I'm afraid the town will be completely destroyed."]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). April 24, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  17. 1 2 3 "Battle against wildfires intensifies in Iwate Prefecture". NHK. April 25, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  18. ↑ 岩手 大槌町山林火災 北側の山に広がる 27日午後は雨か [Forest fire in Otsuchi town, Iwate Prefecture: Spreading across the northern mountains. Rain is expected on the afternoon of the 27th.]. NHK (in Japanese). April 26, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  19. 1 2 3 Sakata, Tatsuro (April 27, 2026). "Shifting winds push wildfire near homes, defy crews in Iwate". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  20. ↑ 岩手 大槌町の山林火災 発生後初めての雨 28日も消火活動予定 [First rain since the start of the forest fire in Otsuchi town, Iwate Prefecture; firefighting efforts are scheduled to continue on the 28th.]. NHK (in Japanese). April 27, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  21. ↑ 大槌町の山林火災７日目 消防「おおむね制御下に」岩手 [Day 7 of the forest fire in Otsuchi-cho Fire Department said "generally under control" Iwate]. NHK (in Japanese). April 28, 2026. Retrieved April 28, 2026.[dead link]
  22. ↑ Higashino, Masakazu; Kaji, Hayato; Tabuchi, Shiori (April 30, 2026). "岩手の民家延焼はなぜ防げたのか 町長「奇跡だ」 過去の教訓生きる" [Why was the burning of private houses in Iwate prevented? Mayor "It's a miracle" Live the lessons of the past]. The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved May 1, 2026.
  23. ↑ 岩手 大槌町の山林火災 “延焼は食い止められている” [Forest fire in Otsuchi-cho, Iwate "The spread of the fire has been stopped"]. NHK (in Japanese). April 30, 2026. Retrieved April 30, 2026.[dead link]
  24. ↑ "大槌山林火災 30日は鎮圧至らない見通し" [The Otsuchi Mountain Forest Fire is not expected to be extinguished on the 30th]. Iwate Nippo (in Japanese). April 30, 2026. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  25. ↑ Hayato, Kaji; Higashino, Mawa (May 2, 2026). 岩手・大槌の山林火災、町が「鎮圧」を宣言 発生11日目 [The forest fire in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, has been declared "under control" by the town on its 11th day of activity.]. The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved May 2, 2026.
  26. ↑ 日本放送協会 (May 6, 2026). 岩手 大槌町 山林火災2週間 別の場所で新たに火災が発生 [Two weeks after the forest fire in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, a new fire has broken out in another location.]. NHK (in Japanese). Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  27. ↑ 大槌町でまた山林火災、延焼拡大の恐れはなし 以前の山林火災とは離れた場所 [Another forest fire has occurred in Otsuchi, but there is no risk of it spreading. The fire is located in a different area from the previous forest fire.]. Iwate Nippo (in Japanese). May 6, 2026. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  28. ↑ 【速報】岩手・大槌町山林火災 新たに発生した火災は鎮圧 [[Breaking News] Forest fire in Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture: Newly broken fire has been brought under control.]. Fuji News Network. May 7, 2026. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  29. 1 2 Yoshikazu, Sato; Masakazu, Higashino (April 23, 2026). "Wildfires rage overnight in Iwate; 1,880 told to evacuate". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  30. ↑ Kaji, Hayato; Higashino, Masakazu; Sato, Zenichi (April 29, 2026). 岩手県大槌町の山林火災 町長「深刻な局面は脱したと認識している」 [Forest fire in Otsuchi-cho, Iwate Prefecture Mayor "I recognize that the serious phase has been escaped"]. The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  31. ↑ 【動画】山林火災、延焼面積1176ヘクタールに拡大 平成以降2番目の規模岩手・大槌 [Forest fires, spreading area to 1,176 hectares, the second largest since Heisei, Otsuchi, Iwate]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). April 24, 2026. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  32. ↑ 岩手・大槌町 山火事発生から1週間 避難指示一部解除へ [One week after the outbreak of a wildfire in Otsuchi Town, Iwate, the evacuation order will be partially lifted]. TV Asahi (in Japanese). April 29, 2026. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  33. ↑ 日本放送協会 (May 1, 2026). 岩手 大槌町山林火災 夕方から激しい雨か 状況見極め消火活動 [Otsuchi, Iwate forest fire Heavy rain from the evening Firefighting activities to identify the situation]. NHK (in Japanese). Retrieved May 1, 2026.[dead link]
  34. ↑ 岩手 大槌町の山林火災 政府が「局地激甚災害」に指定へ [The government is set to designate the forest fire in Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture, as a "localized severe disaster."]. NHK (in Japanese). May 29, 2026. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Iwate wildfire starting to be brought under control, authorities say". The Japan Times. April 29, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  36. ↑ Higashino, Shigeru (April 26, 2026). 平成以降で2番目の規模に拡大 焼失面積1373ヘクタール 消火1500人態勢、ヘリ13機で散水 ＜岩手・大槌山林火災＞ [The second largest forest fire since the Heisei era has burned 1,373 hectares, with 1,500 firefighters and 13 helicopters using water to spray water. <Otsuchi Forest Fire, Iwate Prefecture>]. Kahoku Shimpō (in Japanese). Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  37. ↑ 岩手・大槌山林火災、焼失面積1618ヘクタールに拡大 平成以降国内2番目の規模に 「緊急消防援助隊」懸命の消火活動 [Otsuchi forest fire in Iwate expands to 1,618 hectares of burnt area, making it the second largest fire in Japan since the Heisei era. 'Emergency fire aid team' working hard to extinguish the fire]. Fuji News Network. April 27, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  38. ↑ 大槌の山林火災、平成以降国内2番目の規模に 一部避難所移転へ [Forest fire in Otsuchi becomes second largest in Japan since the Heisei era; some evacuation centers to be relocated.]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). April 24, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  39. ↑ 岩手・大槌町山林火災 一部地区の避難指示「状況見極め判断」 発生から9日目 [Iwate and Otsuchi-cho mountain forest fire Evacuation instructions in some areas "Judgement by judging the situation" 9th day after the outbreak]. Fuji News Network (in Japanese). April 30, 2026. Archived from the original on April 30, 2026. Retrieved April 30, 2026 – via Yahoo! News Japan.
  40. ↑ 【速報】三陸道「山田南IC〜大槌IC」が26日午後7時半から通行止め 国道45号の通行止めは解除 岩手・大槌町の山林火災で [[Breaking news] Sanriku Expressway "Yamada Minami IC - Otsuchi IC" will be closed from 7:30 p.m. on the 26th. National Route 45 will be closed due to a forest fire in Iwate and Otsuchi Town.]. TBS News (in Japanese). April 29, 2026. Archived from the original on April 30, 2026. Retrieved April 30, 2026 – via Yahoo! News Japan.
  41. ↑ 岩手 大槌町山林火災 総務省消防庁が現地調査を開始 [Forest fire in Otsuchi town, Iwate Prefecture: Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications begins on-site investigation.]. NHK (in Japanese). May 12, 2026. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  42. ↑ 大槌町の山林火災現場を視察 防災相“局地激甚災害指定急ぐ” [Minister of Disaster Management inspects forest fire site in Otsuchi town; says "will expedite designation as a localized severe disaster area."]. NHK (in Japanese). May 16, 2026. Retrieved May 17, 2026.

Further reading

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  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Ōtsuchi wildfire at Wikimedia Commons
  • 3D map of the fire
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