Fire Breaks out at Sawmill in Fukui Prefecture; 7 Buildings Burn Down

The Yomiuri Shimbun

19:00 JST, March 23, 2026

FUKUI — Seven buildings were destroyed in a fire in Awara, Fukui Prefecture, in the early hours of Sunday. No injuries were reported.

A fire broke out at a sawmill in the city, burning down a two-story wooden building serving as an office and a workshop as well as a single-story wooden warehouse.

The fire also spread to five neighboring residences and stores, burning them down too.

According to the Awara Police Station, the fire broke out when nobody was at the sawmill.

Thirty-six fire engines were dispatched to battle the fire. A large amount of lumber was stored on the premises of the sawmill, and the fire took about 10 hours to extinguish.

The police are investigating the cause of the fire.

The scene is located in a residential area about 700 meters northeast of Awarayunomachi Station.

“It was so noisy outside, so I went out to have a look,” said a 91-year-old woman who lives in the area. “It was terrifying, such a massive fire. I was worried about if it spread further.”