BPBD Probolinggo: Gunung Ringgit forest fire covers 4.5 hectares
Probolinggo, East Java (ANTARA) - The Head of the Probolinggo Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Oemar Sjarief, said the area affected by forest and land fires on Mount Ringgit, Sapikerep village, Probolinggo Regency, East Java, has reached 4.5 hectares.
“Based on this morning’s monitoring, there are no longer any fire points in the Mount Ringgit area, but personnel from the Probolinggo Regency BPBD Rapid Response Team (TRC) and related agencies remain on standby to carry out monitoring,” he said when contacted in Probolinggo Regency on Monday.
He said the monitoring was being carried out by the Probolinggo Regency BPBD TRC together with the East Java BPBD, the TNI, the police, the Sapikerep village government and local communities, with the observation point located in Kedampul Hamlet II, Sapikerep village.
“Thankfully, based on joint monitoring, at 21:30 WIB on Sunday (26/7) no fire points were detected. This indicates the fire is starting to be brought under control, but we are still monitoring to anticipate the possibility of new fire points emerging,” he said.
He said the vegetation burned was dominated by dry grass, scrub and highly flammable trees due to the dry season conditions.
Although the fire has been visually extinguished, the Probolinggo Regency BPBD has not stopped its surveillance because the joint team remains on standby, as shifts in wind direction and residual embers could potentially reignite the blaze.
“We continue to carry out monitoring periodically. This step is important to ensure conditions are truly safe and to prevent follow-up fires in the Mount Ringgit area,” he said.
Monday morning’s monitoring also showed increasingly improving conditions, with no more smoke visible coming from the burned area, meaning the situation is considered relatively safe.
Oemar expressed appreciation for the synergy of all elements involved in handling the forest and land fires, from the Probolinggo Regency BPBD TRC, the East Java BPBD, the TNI and the police, to the Sapikerep village government and local communities who have carried out monitoring together since the start of the incident.
“Cross-agency collaboration is an important factor in ensuring the fire’s development can be monitored quickly, so that anticipatory steps can be taken immediately if new fire points emerge,” he said.
He also urged the public to remain vigilant throughout the dry season. Hot weather, low humidity and strong winds still have the potential to trigger forest and land fires.