Wildfires in Okayama and Ehime prefectures continued to rage on March 24 after evacuation orders were issued for nearly 3,000 people. 

One firefighter in his 70s reportedly fell and suffered minor injuries in Ehime Prefecture. 

There was no prospect of bringing the fires under control, and both prefectures have requested help from the Self-Defense Forces. 

The fires started on the afternoon of March 23. 

In Okayama Prefecture in western Japan, evacuation orders have been issued for 893 residents of 403 households in the Akura and Miyaura districts of Okayama city’s Minami Ward as of 7 a.m. on March 24. 

According to the city’s fire department, six homes and warehouses in the districts have been burned. 

The fire has expanded to the adjacent city of Tamano, razing a total of 250 hectares. 

Fire engines and helicopters were continuing their fight against the fire on March 24. 

The wildfire in Ehime Prefecture on the main island of Shikoku is believed to have started near the Imabari-Yunoura Interchange of the Imabari-Komatsu Expressway, 

according to the Imabari city fire department. 

The wind fanned the flames, causing the fire to spread to forests in the southwest and south. 

The blaze had destroyed about 128 hectares as of 9:20 a.m. on March 24, the fire department said. 

A helicopter of the prefecture’s fire department and another one from adjacent Tokushima Prefecture have been dumping water on the fire, according to the headquarters. Two SDF helicopters have also joined in the battle. 

Imabari city issued evacuation orders for 381 residents of 219 households in the Nagasawa district at 8:40 p.m. on March 23. 

Saijo city issued the orders for 1,506 residents of 792 households in the Kusukawa district at 11:50 p.m. that day. 

As of 8 a.m. on March 24, nine residents from five households in Magobesaku district of Imabari had evacuated voluntarily. 

In August 2008, a forest fire near the site of the current blaze destroyed more than 100 hectares of 357-meter-high Mount Kasamatsu over a 48-hour period. 

Haruo Shiraishi, an 85-year-old resident in the area, said he saw a mountain ridge burning in the 2008 fire. 

“The fire came much closer to residences at that time. I’m worried this time, too, because the wind is strong. I want the fire to be put under control soon,” he said. 

The fire has disrupted transportation in the area. 

Inbound and outbound lanes between the Imabari-Yunoura and Toyotanbara interchanges of the Imabari-Komatsu Expressway have been closed since the evening of March 23. 

Shikoku Railway Co. (JR Shikoku) suspended operations of the JR Yosan Line between Imabari and Iyosaijo stations from the evening of March 23. Some express train services were still suspended on the morning of March 24. 

In early spring, dry air tends to enter Ehime Prefecture. Since March 18, Imabari and Saijo have received less than a millimeter of rain. 

The Matsuyama Local Meteorological Office issued a dry weather advisory at 4:08 a.m. on March 22. The following day, wind speeds reached a maximum 26.3 kph in Imabari. 

The forecast for March 24 is cloudy with rain and thunder in some areas of Ehime Prefecture. 

Rainfall in the 24 hours until noon on March 25 is expected to reach up to 20 mm in some parts.