[Movie] Explosion occurs at U.S. Army depot in Sagamihara

The Sagamihara municipal fire department received multiple emergency calls, including a U.S. Army report that an explosion and fire appeared to have occurred at a warehouse containing dangerous goods. The U.S. Army sought help based on the mutual fire assistance agreement it has with the municipal government.

According to the Sagamihara government and other sources, the general depot occupies about 200 hectares on the northern side of the tracks between Sagamihara and Yabe stations on the JR Yokohama Line. Storage warehouses and a repair facility for military vehicles are located on the site.

Flames and black smoke rose from the warehouse, which is located about 500 meters from the railway line, and there were repeated explosions that sounded like fireworks.

Thirteen firefighting teams from the fire department and the general depot were dispatched. Due to the dangerous items stored in the warehouse, they did not initially spray water and concentrated on preventing the fire from spreading in the neighborhood. They eventually put out the fire by spraying water after the flames weakened.

According to information provided to the fire department by the U.S. Army, oxygen cylinders and other items were stored in the warehouse. A spokesman for the U.S. Army in Japan told reporters at about 3:40 a.m. Monday that no one was in the warehouse and that the army had received no reports of injuries.

The army will announce the cause of the explosion after it completes its investigation, the spokesman said.

The depot, formerly used by the Imperial Japanese Army, is managed by the U.S. Army Garrison Japan and in charge of commissary and logistics such as storage of supplies and repairs.

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