BNPB Deploys Helicopter and Aircraft to Tackle Wildfires in East Java

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has deployed an additional water-bombing helicopter and an aircraft for weather-modification operations to speed up efforts to tackle forest and land fires in East Java.

BNPB Acting Head of the Disaster Data, Information and Communication Centre Berton Panjaitan said at an online press conference in Jakarta that the helicopter had been brought in from South Kalimantan, while the aircraft for the weather-modification operation came from West Kalimantan.

“The deployment is intended to accelerate firefighting amid blazes that are still ongoing in several parts of East Java, including the Mount Arjuno-Welirang area, Mount Argopuro, Mount Saeng in Bondowoso, and the Supit Urang landfill in Malang City,” Berton said on Friday.

BNPB recorded 482 hectares of land burned in East Java, around 223 hectares of which had yet to be brought under control. Meanwhile, fires in the Arjuno-Welirang area have affected 1,090 hectares since 16 October.

Significantly affected areas include Mount Arjuno, at around 736.80 hectares; Karanganyar, at 490 hectares; and Mount Sumbing, at 381.20 hectares.

To tackle forest and land fires in Kalimantan, BNPB has deployed 38,772 combined personnel in West, Central and South Kalimantan. Air support comprises 35 helicopters: 22 for water-bombing operations and 13 for patrols and weather modification.

BNPB also stressed the importance of protecting personnel and volunteers by appointing safety officers, conducting pre-operation briefings and preparing response plans through command posts.

In addition to strengthening firefighting, local governments have been asked to prevent land burning and coordinate suppression efforts with law enforcement to prevent new fire hotspots from emerging.