Three volunteer firefighters died in Japan on Saturday when they were conducting a prescribed fire on a military base training area in Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture (map). The three local residents, all in their 30s and members of the fire department, became trapped by flames driven by strong winds.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said winds in the area on Saturday morning were around 18 mph and became stronger in the afternoon. The prescribed fire started at 10 a.m.