Forest and Land Fires Spread Across Six Provinces
Forest and land fires (karhutla) have been reported in various parts of Indonesia over recent days. According to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the fires are not confined to Kalimantan but have also occurred in Java and Sumatra.
Acting Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Centre, Berton SP Panjaitan, said his office had received multiple reports of forest and land fires from a number of regions. The first report came from East Belitung Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands Province, on Thursday. The burned land was located in Lalang Village, Manggar District, and Lenggang and Lintang Villages, Renggiang District, with a total burned area of 3.8 hectares.
“The East Belitung Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) immediately deployed personnel and equipment to carry out firefighting efforts. Four personnel brought four sets of portable pump machines, fire hoses, and one operational vehicle to extinguish the fire and cool the land,” he said in a statement on Friday (21/8/2026).
According to him, the fire was successfully extinguished on the same day. He confirmed there were no casualties from the incident.
Although the fire has been extinguished, the East Belitung BPBD is reportedly continuing to monitor the area. This is being done to ensure the fire does not reignite and spread to other areas.
In addition, forest and land fires were also reported in several areas of East Java Province. On Wednesday (19/8/2026), a fire burned 20 hectares of forest in Petak 102 Aren, Kalianyar Village, Ijen District, Bondowoso Regency.
The East Java Provincial BPBD, together with the Bondowoso Regency BPBD, immediately went to the field to conduct assessments and firefighting efforts. The fire was successfully extinguished on Thursday at 18.00 WIB.
On the same day, a forest and land fire also struck Kaulon Village, Sutojayan District, Blitar Regency, East Java. Three hectares of land burned, consisting of dry vegetation and leaf litter on the ground surface, with the cause still under investigation.
“The Blitar Regency BPBD, together with other relevant parties, immediately carried out firefighting. On Thursday at 18.30 WIB, the fire was successfully extinguished,” said Berton.
In the same province, a forest and land fire also occurred in Magetan Regency starting Wednesday at 14.00 WIB. The fire broke out in community forest areas in Mategal Village, Parang District, and Giripurno Village, Kawedanan District. The total burned area reached 8 hectares.
“The Magetan Regency BPBD, together with the East Java Provincial BPBD and supported by other relevant parties, immediately went to the field to carry out firefighting efforts. On Thursday, the fire was reported to have been extinguished and there was no expansion of the burned area,” said Berton.