Yoshitomo submitted the use of fire in the battle for Imperial sanction of Emperor Goshirakawa, and once the sanction was received the Emperor's army set fire to the FUJIWARA no Ienari's residence to the west of Shirakawakita-dono Palace; the fire spread to the palace, causing the retired emperor's soldiers to scramble to escape.
義朝は後白河天皇に火攻の勅許を求め、これが許されると天皇方は白河北殿の西隣にある藤原家成邸に放火、火が燃え移ったため上皇方の兵は先を争って白河北殿から逃走。