Forest Fires at Mount Merapi Ungup-Ungup Devastate 20 Hectares of Ijen Crater Nature Tourism Area
Forest and land fires (karhutla) have struck the Ijen Crater Nature Tourism Area (TWA), specifically in the Mount Merapi Ungup-Ungup area in Tamansari, Licin District, Banyuwangi Regency, scorching an area of approximately 20 hectares.
The Head of Emergency and Logistics at the East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Satriyo Nurseno, stated that the fire at Mount Merapi Ungup-Ungup was first detected on Thursday (3/9) at around 07:34 WIB. “There was a fire spot behind the Merapi Ungup-Ungup Nature Reserve Forest Management Unit (KPH) of the Mount Ijen Tourism area,” Satriyo noted in his report on Friday (4/9).
Satriro mentioned that the total area burned has reached approximately 20 hectares. He confirmed that there were no injuries or fatalities resulting from the incident. “The burned area is roughly 20 hectares. There are no casualties,” he said.
He also explained that the firefighting process at the location has not been easy. Officers are struggling to reach the fire spots because the terrain in the forestry area is slippery and dangerous. As a temporary measure, the BPBD team has established a command post at a campsite located not far from the fire to monitor the development of the fire and the suppression process.
“The fire location cannot be reached because the terrain leading to the site is steep, slippery, and dangerous. BPBD Banyuwangi has set up an alert post tent at the Paltuding Campsite,” said Satriyo.
Satriyo revealed that his agency is continuing to coordinate with BPBD Banyuwangi to ensure that the forest fires in the Mount Ijen area are handled effectively. “BPBD Banyuwangi Regency, the Banyuwangi Regional BKSDA, and Perhutani are continuing intensive monitoring along the Ijen Crater hiking trails,” he added. “This is an anticipatory step to prevent the potential movement of fire spots towards the tourism area and hiking trails.”
The East Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) has officially closed the entire Ijen Crater Nature Tourism Area (TWA) following the forest and land fires that have spread into the area, on Friday (4/9). The closure is stipulated in the East Java BBKSDA announcement letter Number PG.2245/K.2-BIDTEK/KSA.04.01/B/9/2026, signed by the Head of East Java BBKSDA, Nur Patria Kurniawan.
“Given that the Ijen Crater Nature Tourism Area (TWA), located in Bondowoso and Banyuwangi Regencies, has experienced forest fires, and in order to minimise the impact of risks to visitors, all visiting activities in the Ijen Crater Nature Tourism Area (TWA) are closed starting from 4 September 2026 for an indefinite period,” Nur Patria stated in the letter.