High Fire Risk: Several Mountains in East Java Identified as OMC Priority Areas

The East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has stated that several mountainous areas with high fire risks in the region have been included in the priority scale for weather modification operations (OMC).

“The priority areas are certainly those with high fire potential, including Bromo, Semeru, Arjuno, and as seen a few years ago, Mount Lawu. Therefore, these are our priorities,” said the Head of East Java BPBD, Gatot Soebroto, during an inspection of fire management efforts at Mount Bromo on Sunday.

Gatot stated that the implementation of the OMC has been coordinated with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). Based on these communications, the most appropriate period with the best potential for conducting the OMC is identified as October 202 scale.

“It can be carried out if the clouds are sufficiently matured, which can only be confirmed by the BMKG, ensuring the data is supported by them. We hope that next month the cloud potential will be favourable,” he added.

In addition to the mountainous regions in East Java, Gatot noted that the OMC is also intended to meet water supply requirements for irrigation in the province’s northern coastal areas, such as Lamongan and Bojonegoro.

He emphasised that weather modification will not be implemented across all regions; instead, execution will depend on the specific needs of each area in East Java. Gatot mentioned that some areas may not require weather modification, particularly those where certain crops require a dry season.

“Specifically for tobacco farmers who require a dry season, this is one of our considerations when deciding which areas need OMC and which require water bombing,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of Emergency Logistics at the East Java BPBD, Satriyo Nurseno, added that while weather modification is necessary to extinguish forest and land fires, current cloud conditions do not permit the process. He noted that the plan is to initiate the OMC in early October, as BMKG Juanda indicates potential cloud formation on the southern side of East Java.