30-Hectare Forest Fire in Mount Rinjani National Park Brought Under Control

The Ministry of Forestry, through the Mount Rinjani National Park Office (TNGR) and a joint team, has successfully brought under control a forest and land fire that struck the Sembalun resort area in East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. The fire, which burned an area of approximately 30 hectares, was declared under control on Sunday (9/8).

The incident was first reported by local residents on Friday (7/8) at around 16:48 WITA. Following the report, officers from the Sembalun Resort, together with students from the SKLA Field Work Practice, immediately conducted a field check and discovered three active fire spots in the Maletan area.

During the suppression process, the team faced challenges due to dynamic field conditions. In accordance with occupational health and safety (K3) standard operating procedures, personnel were temporarily withdrawn to the post on Friday evening at 19:00 WITA to ensure their safety before resuming operations. Based on initial observations, the affected vegetation was dominated by shrubs, bushes, and lianas. Although the burned area is estimated at 30 hectares, the exact figure is still being confirmed by the authorities.

Firefighting efforts were reinforced by personnel from the East Lombok Regency Fire Department, Sembalun Police Station, and Sembalun Military Command. The team also utilised drones to monitor the development of hotspots in real-time to ensure the effectiveness of the field response. The Head of Mount Rinjani National Park, Budhy Kurniawan, stated that the fire was successfully brought under control at around 01:30 WITA. Currently, officers are conducting a mopping-up phase to extinguish any remaining material that could potentially reignite.

“Handling forest and land fires requires a rapid response and joint effort. We appreciate the support from all parties. After the fire was brought under control, monitoring continues to ensure no embers flare up again,” Budhy said in an official statement on Sunday (9/8). The Ministry of Forestry urges residents around the Mount Rinjani National Park area to remain vigilant. The public is asked to report immediately if they discover any indications of fire or suspicious activities that could potentially trigger hotspots within or around the national park area.