Central Java Police Chief Asks Army Aviation to Deploy Helicopter to Help Extinguish Mount Lawu Wildfire

KARANGANYAR — Central Java Police Chief Inspector General Roy Hardi Siahaan inspected efforts to extinguish a forest and land fire on the slopes of Mount Lawu on Saturday (17 October 2026). During the visit, he said he hoped the Army Aviation Centre (Penerbad) would deploy a helicopter to support firefighting with water-bombing operations.

Roy monitored the response while visiting the Joint Wildfire Response Command Post and the Tlogo Dlingo Forest Resort monitoring post in Gondosuli Village, Tawangmangu District, Karanganyar Regency. He also discussed the next steps with representatives of the relevant agencies, including state forestry company Perum Perhutani, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the Indonesian Military (TNI) and joint volunteer groups.

Roy said the terrain made it impossible for personnel to carry equipment to higher ground and tackle the fire there. As a result, crews were trying to extinguish or contain the blaze with whatever equipment was available.

“We hope our colleagues at Penerbad can send a helicopter here to provide assistance, carrying equipment so that it can then conduct water-bombing operations,” Roy said.

The wildfire on Mount Lawu’s slopes has reportedly burned at least 100 hectares. A total of 244 personnel from the TNI, police and other relevant groups were deployed in Saturday’s firefighting effort.