Tsunami Fires After the Great East Japan Earthquake

Hazardous flammable materials are a main factor in the occurrence of fires in tsunami-affected areas. Large amounts of combustible materials torn from houses destroyed by the tsunami and of the wooden houses themselves swept away by the tsunami increased the possibility of fire spreading in affected areas where such materials accumulated. Drifting automobiles and fishing boats on fire also triggered the fire spread, which was accelerated by LP gas cylinders and automobiles fuel tanks in burned areas.