The Japanese government has launched an expert panel to study why the wildfires that broke out in recent months spread so widely.



The panel, which was jointly launched by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency and the Forestry Agency, met for the first time on Friday.



Wildfires have struck Iwate, Okayama, Ehime and other prefectures during the past winter and spring. The fire in Iwate's Ofunato City burned roughly 2,900 hectares, or about 9 percent of the city. More than 200 buildings were damaged.



Government officials say panel members called for studies on how quickly blazes can burn branches and leaves. It is believed that the wildfires spread so rapidly due in part to fires in the tree canopy, where branches and foliage are concentrated.



Some experts noted that residential areas near foothills often have complex terrain that necessitates studying the localized airflow and other weather conditions.



The panel will also discuss ways to beef up fire department capabilities, and draw up a report by around the summer.



Panel chief Sekizawa Ai said he was surprised by the repeated wildfires this year, since such disasters had been on the decline in Japan.



Sekizawa, who heads the Japan Association of Fire Protection Engineers, stressed that the panel should thoroughly review why so many fires took place and spread, to prevent repeats.