MAEBASHI, Japan – A forest fire broke out in Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo, on Sunday, with the local government requesting the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel as the blaze continues to spread.
The prefectural government said the fire in Kiryu had burned about 2,500 square meters of woodland as of 2:30 p.m., with no injuries confirmed so far.
Emergency services were alerted at around 11:20 a.m. after a call reported white smoke rising from a mountainside. Firefighters and disaster-response helicopters were sent to contain the flames.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said a dry air advisory was in effect for Kiryu at the time of the outbreak, and it later issued a strong wind advisory.
The site is a mountainous area several kilometers north of JR Kiryu Station. Police said no homes are nearby.
AloJapan.com