Overview
- Local fire officials said they will not declare the blaze fully out until after a series of five helicopter inspections scheduled through late May.
- Aerial checks revealed white smoke rising from spots where no heat had been confirmed before, prompting a longer watch period.
- Joint surveys by the Tohoku Forest Management Bureau, Iwate Prefecture, and Otsuchi Town confirmed widespread crown fires, where flames reached the treetops.
- Damage was most apparent on ridgelines and upper slopes and mainly affected conifers such as cedar and pine, which burn quickly when the canopy ignites.
- Ground crews and local volunteer brigades continue daily patrols, with officials citing limited rainfall and remaining heat sources as reasons to maintain vigilance.