A fire broke out on August 18, 2025, in a mixed-use building in the Dotonbori area of Minami, Chuo Ward, Osaka. The blaze affected two adjacent buildings, a six-story and a seven-story structure, burning approximately 110 square meters. During firefighting operations, two male firefighters aged 22 and 55 were trapped on the sixth floor after a ceiling collapse on the fifth floor and subsequently died from suffocation due to oxygen deprivation. Four other firefighters were hospitalized with burns and heatstroke symptoms. The fire is believed to have started near an outdoor air conditioning unit on the first floor of the six-story building, with flames spreading upward along exterior advertising signage to the neighboring building. The Osaka City Fire Department had previously identified six fire safety violations at the building, including deficiencies in fire alarms and lack of evacuation drills, many of which remained uncorrected. An accident investigation committee has been established by the Osaka City Fire Department to determine the cause and circumstances of the fire, with a preliminary report expected by the end of October. The Osaka Prefectural Police have been conducting on-site investigations since August 19. The incident has drawn condolences from officials, including the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, recognizing the firefighters' sacrifice. The fire was nearly extinguished by early afternoon on the day it started, but its rapid spread and structural collapse contributed to the fatalities.