Forestry Ministry Extinguishes 30-Hectare Fire on Mount Rinjani
The Ministry of Forestry, through the Forest Fire Control Centre for the Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara Region together with the Mount Rinjani National Park Office (BTNGR) and a joint team, has successfully extinguished a forest fire in Sembalun District, East Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara.
The fire occurred within the Mount Rinjani National Park (TNGR), an area dominated by savanna cover and dry scrubland.
The Jabalnusra Forest Fire Control Office, Mataram Section III, immediately deployed personnel and firefighting equipment to reinforce the handling efforts already being carried out by the joint team on the ground after receiving the report.
Approximately 30 hectares of the Mount Rinjani National Park area were brought under control on Saturday (8/8).
After the main fire was successfully extinguished, the team continued with mop-up operations, followed by cooling to ensure that no embers or fire sources remained that could potentially reignite.
Further monitoring was also carried out until all hotspots were confirmed to be completely extinguished. This step is important because the burned area has savanna and scrub vegetation that is highly flammable, especially during the dry season.
Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni emphasised the importance of early detection and rapid response in dealing with the threat of forest and land fires.
He explained that early warning systems, including hotspot monitoring, should be utilised to prevent fires from spreading more widely.
“Do not wait for the fire to grow. Utilise our early warning system through Sipongi+ hotspot monitoring and other technologies, carry out early detection, and handle it as early as possible. Every prevention and early suppression effort is an important step to keep forests sustainable,” said Raja Juli in a written statement on Monday (10/8).
Meanwhile, Head of the Jabalnusra Forest Fire Control Office, Bambang Setyo Antoko, said that response speed and cross-party collaboration were key to preventing forest fires from spreading more widely.
“Every fire incident in conservation areas must be responded to as early as possible. The speed of Manggala Agni together with area managers and all elements on the ground in carrying out suppression is the key to early handling of forest fires,” said Bambang.
Mount Rinjani National Park is one of the important conservation areas in West Nusa Tenggara. The area has an ecological function in maintaining biodiversity, habitat for various flora and fauna, water systems, and ecosystem sustainability.
In addition to its ecological function, the Mount Rinjani National Park area also has important social and cultural value for the surrounding communities, having been part of community life for generations.
“The suppression operation in Sembalun demonstrates the importance of synergy between Manggala Agni, area managers, the TNI, Polri, MPA/MMP, the community, and other relevant elements. Working together on the ground allowed the fire to be quickly localised and extinguished before it spread further,” he said.
The fire was previously reported to have occurred in the Mount Rinjani National Park area on Friday (7/8).
Head of the TNGR Administrative Subdivision, Astekita Ardiaristo, said the fire had been burning since Friday afternoon in the border area between the TNGR area and land owned by residents.
The fire was reported by local residents. Around 30 hectares of the TNGR area were engulfed by flames.