Forest and Land Fires Occur Daily in West Java

There is no day without forest and land fires in Sumedang Regency. Over the past two days, four forest and land fires have occurred in different locations.

A land fire broke out in the border area of Licin Village and Mandalaherang Village, Cimalaka District, on Sunday (26/7) at around 3.30 p.m. WIB. The fire was successfully extinguished several hours later after officers from the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and the Fire Department worked hard at the scene.

A few hours later, in the evening, another fire broke out in the Gunung Palasari Forest, Sindang Palay Block, Pasanggrahan Baru Urban Village, South Sumedang District. Two fire spots burned the forest area at the top and bottom. BPBD officers extinguished the fire at the top using manual tools, while the fire at the bottom, being close to a road, was extinguished using a water pump.

The previous day, also in Sumedang, a fire hit land in Lebak Bulus Hamlet RT 01 RW 05, Cibungur Village, Rancakalong District. A fire also struck Cipameungpeuk RT 03 RW 03, Cipameungpeuk Urban Village, South Sumedang District. On the same day, a fire burned a Perhutani forest in the Bugel area, Tomo District.

Meanwhile, fires also occurred in forest areas in Garut Regency and Purwakarta Regency. In Garut, two fire spots appeared in the Gunung Guntur forest area, with flames visible from a 5-kilometre radius. The forest fire in Purwakarta occurred in the Gunung Cupu area, in Anjun Village, Plered District.

Head of the Sumedang Regency BPBD, Bambang Rianto, urged residents to increase their vigilance. “All areas in Sumedang are experiencing drought, making them prone to fires. Do not discard lit cigarette butts or burn rubbish carelessly,” he stressed.