A fire broke out in a three-storey apartment building in Kita-Isshiki, Gifu, in the early hours of 11 November 2026, after a neighbour reported seeing flames from the first floor.[1] Twelve of the building’s residents, aged from one to their forties, were taken to hospital and were thought to have minor injuries.[1][2] The injured were taken to hospitals in Gifu City and in the neighbouring town of Kasamatsu.[3] The apartment housed 11 households and 15 residents in total.[1] No one was left behind in the fire.[4] The man who lived in the ground-floor room where the fire started was not injured.[1]

Gifu Chuo Police Station arrested that resident, a 43-year-old unemployed Turkish man, on 11 November on suspicion of violating the Narcotics Control Law by using cannabis.[1][2] Police said he was suspected of using cannabis between early August and 11 November.[1][2] The suspicion arose during the fire investigation: officers found his behaviour suspicious, tested his urine and detected cannabis components.[1]

Police said they are investigating whether the cannabis use is connected to the fire.[1][2]