Wildfires Continue to Spread in Western Japan’s Okayama, Ehime Prefectures; SDF Helicopters Join Firefighting Efforts (Update1)

The Yomiuri Shimbun

11:28 JST, March 24, 2025 (updated at 17:15 JST, March 24)

Wildfires that broke out on Sunday in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, and Okayama City are continuing to spread.

The fire in Imabari broke out in the Nagasawa area of the city. The Okayama fire began in the Akura area of the city’s Minami Ward located in the south.

The wildfires had burned approximately 128 hectares of forest in Imabari as of 9:20 a.m. on Monday, and 250 hectares in Okayama as of 7 a.m. on Monday. Evacuation orders have been issued for 1,887 people in 1,011 households in Ehime Prefecture and 893 people in 403 households in Okayama Prefecture.

In response to requests from both prefectures, the SDF has dispatched helicopters to both cities. Two helicopters have been engaged in firefighting efforts in Okayama since Monday morning.

Two Self-Defense Force helicopters joined firefighting efforts on both prefectures’ request. The city of Okayama also dispatched two helicopters from Monday morning.