BPBD Probolinggo: Gunung Ringgit forest fire covers 4.5 hectares

Probolinggo, East Java - The Head of the Probolinggo Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Oemar Sjarief, stated that the forest and land fire on Mount Ringgit, Sapikerep Village, Probolinggo Regency, East Java, has reached 4.5 hectares. “Monitoring results this morning show there are no more hotspots in the Mount Ringgit area, but personnel from the BPBD Probolinggo Rapid Response Team (TRC) and related agencies remain on standby to conduct surveillance,” he said when contacted in Probolinggo Regency on Monday. He noted that monitoring is being carried out by the TRC BPBD Probolinggo together with the East Java BPBD, the Indonesian National Armed Forces, the Indonesian National Police, the Sapikerep Village Government, and the local community, with the observation point located in Kedampul II Hamlet, Sapikerep Village. “Thank God, based on the joint monitoring results, as of Sunday (26/7) at 21.30 WIB, hotspots were no longer detected. This condition indicates the fire is starting to be controlled, but we continue monitoring to anticipate the possibility of new hotspots appearing,” he said. He explained that the burned vegetation was dominated by dry grass, shrubs, and trees that are highly flammable due to the dry season conditions. Although the fire is visually extinguished, the Probolinggo BPBD has not ceased its supervision as joint teams remain on standby because changes in wind direction or remaining embers could potentially reignite the fire. “We are still conducting periodic monitoring. This step is important to ensure the situation is completely safe and to prevent subsequent fires in the Mount Ringgit area,” he stated. Monday morning’s monitoring results also showed improving conditions with no more smoke visible from the fire area, so the situation is considered relatively safe. Oemar expressed his appreciation for the synergy of all elements involved in handling the forest and land fire, from the Probolinggo BPBD TRC, East Java BPBD, the Indonesian National Armed Forces, the Indonesian National Police, the Sapikerep Village Government, to the local community who have been monitoring together since the beginning of the incident. “Cross-agency collaboration is an important factor in ensuring that fire developments can be monitored quickly, so that anticipatory measures can be taken immediately if new hotspots appear,” he said. He also urged the public to remain vigilant during the dry season. Hot, low-humidity, and windy weather conditions still have the potential to trigger forest and land fires.