(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
A series of forest fires have occurred in Iwate Prefecture. I would like to express my deepest sympathies to the people affected. In response to this series of forest fires, the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) have been conducting aerial firefighting operations, based on the disaster relief request issued by the Governor of Iwate Prefecture, using SDF helicopters. In the case of the most recent forest fire in Akasakicho, the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the SDF have dispatched liaison officers to the local governments concerned from the time the fire occurred, to gather information and coordinate communication, and have conducted aerial firefighting and other operations by dispatching five helicopters. In light of the current situation, from tomorrow, February 28, we are planning to deploy two additional CH-47 transport helicopters with great aerial firefighting capabilities which can water 10 times more than regular helicopters. They have already begun moving to a military camp near the ground, and from early tomorrow morning, we will respond to the fires by reinforcing our firefighting capability with a total of seven helicopters, comprising four CH-47 transport helicopters and three helicopters for video transmission and other purposes. The MOD and the SDF will make every effort by working in close cooperation with the local government and the fire department to prevent the spread of damage and to extinguish the fire as soon as possible.