OSAKA (TR) – Osaka Prefectural Police believe that a ‘discarded cigarette’ was the cause of a forest fire that broke out in the town of Nose on Monday, with firefighting efforts ongoing, reports Mainichi Broadcasting System (Mar. 30).
At around 10:30 a.m., the local fire department received a report from a nearby resident in the Yamabe area. “The mountain behind my house is on fire,” the caller said.
According to police and fire officials, approximately 6,000 square meters of forest have burned. Nineteen fire engines and 2 helicopters have been dispatched to continue firefighting efforts.
A man in his 70s who was mowing grass nearby suffered burns to his hands and other parts of his body. He was taken to a hospital, but his injuries are minor, police said.
The man told police, “The fire spread due to a discarded cigarette.” Police are now investigating the connection between the discarded cigarette and the start of the fire.
