Five Hotspots Remain on Mount Cendono, Firefighting Hampered by Difficult Terrain

A joint team has discovered five hotspots causing forest and land fires (karhutla) on Mount Cendono, specifically within the R Soerjo Grand Forest Park (Tahura) area in Mojokerto, East Java.

Head of the East Java Provincial Forestry Service, Jumadi, said in Surabaya on Thursday (16 July) that of the five fire points, only one has been extinguished, and even then not completely. He explained that field conditions are hindering officers’ efforts to put out the fires.

“They cannot yet be fully extinguished because the ground is difficult for officers to reach. Officers are currently still stationed around the location to move again tomorrow,” said Jumadi.

He said this is because the terrain of the fire points on Mount Cendono lies in very steep ravines, requiring a long time to approach. What can be done is to extinguish fires at other locations to prevent them from spreading.

He said the joint team — comprising personnel from the East Java Provincial BPBD, the Mojokerto Regency BPBD, Pacet Police Sector, Pacet Military Post, Tahura R Soerjo, the Fire Care Community (MPA), volunteer groups, and local residents — is assisting with the firefighting effort.

Nevertheless, the team is hampered by the difficult terrain, requiring them to take turns approaching the fire points.

“We must not allow officers to become victims. When the area cannot be reached and they are exhausted, they are pulled back to the command post,” he said.

Jumadi explained that the East Java Forestry Service is still coordinating with the central government to secure water bombing assistance or other alternatives. This approach is expected to overcome the fires on Mount Cendono.