TOKYO, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A forest fire broke out in Japan's Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo, on Sunday, with no injuries confirmed so far, local media reported.

An emergency call was made at around 11:20 a.m. local time reporting white smoke rising from a mountainside in Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture, Kyodo News reported.

Firefighters and disaster-response helicopters were sent to contain the flames. As of 2:30 p.m. local time, the fire had burned about 2,500 square meters of woodland, the report said.

The prefectural government has requested the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel as the blaze continues to spread, it added.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said a dry air advisory was in effect for Kiryu at the time of the outbreak, and it later issued a strong wind advisory. ■