BNPB reveals trigger for Klaten land fire spreading into forest

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has revealed that the main trigger for a land fire that spread into a Perhutani area in Klaten Regency, Central Java, originated from uncontrolled land clearing activities. Head of the BNPB Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Centre, Abdul Muhari, stated that the incident struck the village of Gunung Gajah in Bayat District, with a total affected area reaching approximately 3.5 hectares. “The assessment results obtained field facts that the cause of the fire was due to land clearance, so the fire could not be controlled and caused the land fire to spread further,” he said. Abdul Muhari explained that the flames began to creep and spread, eventually burning an area in Petak 98 E of the Perhutani Cawas BKPH Wonogiri on Monday (20/7) at around 11.30 a.m. Western Indonesian Time. Thanks to a rapid response and integrated handling by a joint task force on the ground, the blaze was fully extinguished on the same day. The agency reminded the public not to use haphazard burning methods in land opening or clearance activities, especially in areas adjacent to reactive forest zones. “The public is also urged to immediately report to officers if they discover potential fire spots so that early handling can be carried out before the fire spreads,” Abdul Muhari said.