Fire horror unfolded in Tochigi’s Ashikaga on Friday, where a raging inferno destroyed four homes, killed two residents, and scorched a 60-year-old survivor. A neighboring house escaped total loss but bore significant scars from the prolonged battle with flames.
Emergency services rushed to the scene at 7 a.m. following smoke sightings in the housing district. It took three and a half grueling hours to tame the fire, revealing a scene of utter devastation.
Police sifted through ashes to find two fatalities, with identification and cause determination underway. The injured man’s rescue underscores the narrow escapes amid chaos.
Not isolated, this follows a wildfire igniting Mount Ogi in Yamanashi Prefecture. Spotted near Unohara at 10:45 a.m. Thursday, it’s expanding rapidly, prompting helicopter drops due to inaccessible peaks and parched landscapes.
Prior warnings from Unohara highlighted fire dangers from minimal rain. Comparatively, Niigata’s December blaze in a 10-floor building caused injuries, straining emergency responses. These events signal urgent needs for better vigilance in fire-prone Japan.