All hotspots and forest fires on Mount Arjuno-Welirang extinguished

The East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has confirmed that all fire spots and forest fires in the Mount Arjuno-Welirang area have been extinguished.

“Last night the ground team carried out extinguishing operations at two fire spot locations, namely Lapangan Kotak and Lembah Lengkehan in Pecalukan Village, Prigen District, Pasuruan Regency,” said East Java BPBD Head Gatot Soebroto when contacted by ANTARA from Pasuruan on Friday.

Gatot explained that ground team patrols were deployed from Friday morning until noon to monitor the potential re-emergence of fires at several locations.

In addition, ground patrols also conducted sweeps in previously affected areas to ensure no new fire spots appeared.

After the wetting operations were completed, the helicopter was scheduled to return to Abdulrachman Saleh Air Base in Malang Regency, while ground personnel remained on standby in the affected areas.

He said the ground team would continue to conduct patrols to anticipate the emergence of smoke, fire spots, or new potential fires that could threaten the Mount Arjuno-Welirang area.

Personnel from East Java and Pasuruan BPBD, Perhutani, Raden Soerjo Grand Forest Park (Tahura), Jagawana, and the Fire Care Community remain on standby in the Sumber Brantas hiking trail area in Bumiaji District, Batu City, and also at Lapangan Kaliandra in Prigen District, Pasuruan Regency, to anticipate any recurrence of smoke or fire spots.

“To date, no fire spots have been found, so the fire situation is relatively under control. We hope no new fire spots emerge so that the fire handling on Mount Arjuno-Welirang can be completed thoroughly,” said Gatot.