Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Suspects Human Error Caused Mount Bromo Fire

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago suspects the forest fire on Mount Bromo, East Java, occurred due to human error. He mentioned the possibility that the fire originated from human activity by people who were feeling cold.

Djamari said this suspicion was based on the cold temperatures in the Bromo area. According to him, visitors may have lit a fire to warm themselves but then forgotten to extinguish it.

“Bromo is cold. Many people go there, perhaps while feeling cold they lit a fire, or perhaps they forgot to put it out,” Djamari said at the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs office in Central Jakarta on Monday (10/8/2026).

Djamari also referred to previous fire incidents in the Bromo area. According to him, visitor activities such as taking photographs have also triggered fires in the past.

“Like last year, people were just taking photos and it caught fire,” he said.

When asked whether the Bromo fire was caused by human factors rather than natural ones, Djamari agreed, although he described it as a suspicion.

“Something like that, because of human error. Yes, human error,” he stated.

On the other hand, Djamari conveyed that the fire in the Bromo area has been successfully handled. He said there are currently only about one or two hotspots remaining.

“Regarding Bromo, the Head of BNPB and the Minister of Forestry only returned last night. It may have just happened this morning. So it was also reported earlier that we have resolved it, with only one or two hotspots left,” he added.