East Java Government Deploys Additional Helicopter to Combat Bromo Forest Fires

The East Java Provincial Government has added a water-bombing helicopter to accelerate the handling of forest and land fires in the Mount Bromo area, which have been ongoing for eight days. East Java Regional Secretary Adhy Karyono stated that the additional aircraft complements two helicopters from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) that were previously deployed to support aerial firefighting operations. “The East Java Provincial Government is adding one Airbus helicopter so that water-bombing operations can proceed more quickly,” he said. According to Adhy, two Airbus helicopters are now centred in the Ranu Pani area to make the refuelling process more efficient compared to returning to Abdulrachman Saleh Air Force Base. This measure is expected to increase the intensity of water drops while reducing operational constraints caused by weather. In addition to aerial operations, the provincial government is also strengthening ground firefighting by deploying fire engines from several regions, including Surabaya, Probolinggo, and Pasuruan. Wetting of the area continues even when no flames are visible to prevent new hotspots from emerging. Meanwhile, Head of the East Java Culture and Tourism Office, Evy Afianasari, assessed that the Bromo fire serves as an important evaluation point for strengthening initial handling to prevent fires from spreading, especially during strong wind conditions. She added that the impact on the tourism sector is still being assessed as the current focus remains on extinguishing the fire. Tourists are also advised to postpone visits to Bromo while all tourist access remains closed for safety reasons. The East Java Provincial Government will also propose strengthening preventive measures, including tightening the ban on bringing cigarettes and e-cigarettes into fire-prone natural tourist areas.