A major wildfire in northern Japan's Iwate region, described as the second largest in over 30 years, has been brought under control after an 11-day battle. The fire scorched approximately 1,600 hectares (about 4,000 acres), nearly five times the size of New York City's Central Park. Firefighting efforts involved hundreds of firefighters and over 1,000 military personnel, responding to the blaze that damaged at least eight buildings and caused minor injuries to two individuals. The mayor of Otsuchi, Kozo Hirano, credited the success in controlling the fire to both aerial and ground operations, along with heavy rainfall. However, authorities remain cautious about potential smoldering embers. The increasing frequency of wildfires in Japan has been linked to climate change, which is intensifying dry conditions, raising concerns for future fire risks.