Banyuwangi Regency Declares Emergency Response Status for Ijen Crater Forest Fires

The Banyuwangi Regency Government, East Java, has declared an Emergency Response Status for Forest and Land Fires (Karhutla) within the Ijen Crater Nature Tourism Area (TWA).

This declaration of the Emergency Response Status for the Ijen Crater TWA is based on the Decree of the Regent of Banyuwangi, Ipuk Fiestiandani, Number: 100.3.3.2/229/KEP/429.011/2026.

“We have established an emergency disaster status for the next 14 days, and have signed the emergency response statement to accelerate the handling process,” said the Regent of Banyuwangi, Ipuk Fiestiandani, in Banyuwangi on Saturday.

The Banyuwangi Regency Government has proposed support for water-bombing helicopters to the East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD Jatim) and the Surabaya SAR Office in an effort to extinguish the forest and land fires in the Ijen Crater TWA area.

“Based on coordination with BPBD Jatim, the water-bombing helicopter will depart from Malang and land at Banyuwangi Airport, after which the helicopter will proceed to Paltuding, Ijen Crater, to conduct immediate aerial firefighting,” she said.

The Emergency Response Status for the Ijen Crater TWA fires is effective for 14 days, from 4 to 17 September 2026, and may be extended as required by the emergency disaster handling needs on the ground.

Fire hotspots were first detected in the forest and plantation areas of Pasewaran, Kalipuro District, on Wednesday (2/9), with officers immediately initiating phased response efforts.

The fire began spreading towards the Pondok Bunder area, which serves as the trekking route to the Ijen Crater, on Friday (4/9), resulting in the temporary closure of the Ijen Crater Nature Tourism Area.