Bromo Wildfire Still Raging, East Java BPBD Focuses on Extinguishing Efforts

The East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has yet to confirm when tourist access to Mount Bromo will be reopened following the increasingly widespread forest and land fires. Joint officers are currently prioritising extinguishing efforts at the fire hotspots.

Head of East Java BPBD, Gatot Subroto, stated that the decision to reopen the tourist area is entirely the authority of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS) Agency. His party is currently focused on assisting the acceleration of extinguishing efforts in the field.

“To ascertain when it will be reopened is entirely the authority of the TNBTS Agency; we are focusing on extinguishing the fire,” said Gatot Subroto in Surabaya on Sunday (9/8).

The TNBTS Agency has imposed a total closure of tourist access since Saturday (8/8) at 22:00 WIB. This measure was taken after an evaluation of the current conditions showed that the flames in the Bromo Caldera area continued to spread, reaching the savanna area.

Based on visual monitoring via the official TNBTS Agency account, the fire was seen burning the cliff area near the Tengger Caldera Ring Road (JLKT). The latest information indicates the fire has also spread towards Mount Kursi, increasing the risk to visitor safety.

Gatot emphasised that this closure is crucial to protect tourists and tourism service providers from the fire threat. If access were forced to remain open, the burning terrain conditions could endanger the lives of anyone in the area.

“This is very dangerous for anyone intending to visit Mount Bromo, so the steps taken by TNBTS need to be supported by all parties, including business operators,” he stressed.

During the closure period, tourism service operators are urged to proactively inform potential visitors of this condition. The closure affects all main entry points, namely Cemorolawang (Probolinggo), Wonokitri (Pasuruan), Jemplang and Coban Trisula (Malang), and Senduro (Lumajang).