Forest and Land Fires Spread Across Java; BNPB Reports Fire Hotspots
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has recorded forest and land fires in West Java and Central Java.
According to a BNPB report as of 7am local time on Sunday (25 October 2026), joint teams were still extinguishing fires and monitoring the situation to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading.
In addition to Kuningan, BNPB was monitoring the response to fires in Ciamis regency, West Java, and Grobogan regency, Central Java.
In Kuningan, a fire broke out in Gunung Ciremai National Park, specifically in the area managed by Section I of the National Park Management Resort in Cibuntu village, Pasawahan district. The fire began at around 8.44pm on Wednesday (21 October).
As of Saturday (24 October), officials were still investigating the cause. Joint personnel continued efforts to extinguish the fire manually and through water-bombing operations.
Teams were also monitoring the area for active hotspots. Surveillance using unmanned aerial vehicle patrols and thermal drones showed a decline in the number of hotspots.
At 6pm on Thursday (22 October), officials detected 13 hotspots. The number fell to 10 at 4pm on Friday (23 October). At 8.50am on Saturday (24 October), the team conducted another aerial survey, beginning at Karang Dinding.
The survey covered Cipariuk, Karang Dinding, Bukit Seribu Bintang (BSB), Karang Saninten, Mount Sumbul and Mount Dulang. It found hotspots still burning inside the forest, south of the Karang Dinding fire-monitoring post.
Response efforts in Kuningan are taking place during an extension of West Java province’s 2026 emergency alert status for drought and forest and land fires. The extension is based on West Java Governor’s Decree No. 360/Kep.577-BPBD/2026 and is in effect from 1 to 31 October 2026.
As of the report on Saturday (24 October), firefighting was continuing and material losses were still being assessed. No fatalities had been reported.
In Ciamis regency, West Java, fires broke out in three villages at 9.28am on Friday (23 October): Pamalayan village in Cijeungjing district, and Cidolog and Ambit villages in Cidolog district. The cause remains under investigation. Preliminary assessments put the area burned at about 2.254 hectares.
The West Java Provincial Disaster Management Agency coordinated with the Ciamis Regency Disaster Management Agency to support the response. The regency agency also coordinated with local officials and involved the Ciamis Fire and Rescue Service, village-level military personnel (Babinsa), village officials and residents in firefighting efforts.
According to an update on Saturday (24 October), the fires had been extinguished. Assessments of the affected land area were continuing as part of the response. No fatalities were reported.
In Grobogan regency, Central Java, a land fire broke out in Rejosari village, Grobogan district, on Saturday (24 October). It was reportedly triggered by a resident burning rubbish. The fire grew and spread to nearby bamboo clumps, burning about one hectare of land.
The Grobogan Regency Disaster Management Agency coordinated with relevant parties and assessed the site to determine the impact and check conditions in the affected area. A report on Saturday (24 October) said the fire had been extinguished and the situation was safe and under control. No fatalities were reported.
The response in Grobogan is taking place during Central Java province’s 2026 emergency alert period for drought and forest and land fires. The status, based on Central Java Governor’s Decree No. 100.3.3.1/237 of 2026, runs from 1 June to 31 December 2026.