Forestry Ministry's Rapid Response Controls Mount Rinjani Fire

The Ministry of Forestry, through its Forest and Land Fire Control Brigade (Balai Dalkarhut) for the Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara region, in collaboration with the Mount Rinjani National Park Office (BTNGR), moved swiftly to tackle a forest fire in Sembalun District, East Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara. The fire, which affected approximately 30 hectares of savanna and dry shrubland within the Mount Rinjani National Park, was successfully contained on Saturday (8/8). After the main blaze was extinguished, teams continued mop-up operations until 01.30 WITA, with follow-up monitoring conducted to ensure all hotspots were completely extinguished.

Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni emphasised the necessity of early detection and rapid response to prevent forest and land fires from escalating. “Do not wait for the fire to grow. Utilise our early warning systems, including hotspot monitoring via Sipongi+ and other technologies, to detect and handle fires as early as possible,” he stated.

Bambang Setyo Antoko, Head of the Regional Forest Fire Control Brigade, noted that the speed of the response and cross-party collaboration were key to preventing the fire from spreading further. He stressed that fire management does not end once the flames are out, as continued vigilance is required, especially in savanna areas prone to burning during the dry season. The Mount Rinjani National Park is a crucial conservation area in West Nusa Tenggara, playing a vital role in preserving biodiversity, water systems, and ecosystem sustainability, as well as holding deep social and cultural significance for local communities. Bambang affirmed that the successful operation was a result of strong synergy between the Manggala Agni fire brigade, park management, the Indonesian National Armed Forces, the National Police, and the local community.