Joint Task Force Tackles Forest Fire at Mount Butak, East Java

Batu, East Java — A joint task force consisting of various agencies is currently managing a forest fire in the Mount Butak area, East Java, on Tuesday.

The Head of the Batu City Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) stated that the fire at Mount Butak broke out at approximately 11:00 WIB.

“It is true that the fire is located at Mount Butak; the extinguishing process is ongoing, involving the BPBD, volunteers, Manggala Agni, the TNI, and the Polri,” he said.

According to preliminary information received from the Batu City BPBD Operations Control Centre (Pusdalops), the forest fire has hit the Plot 100, Post 3 area of Mount Butak.

He noted that the fire location does not fall within the administrative territory of Batu City, but rather within Malang Regency, East Java.

“The vegetation at Mount Butak is very sparse, consisting mainly of dry litter, such as weeds and grass, which can burn easily. If not addressed immediately, the area affected could reach several hectares within seconds,” he explained.

In addition to the weather, he stated that the firefighting efforts face challenges due to the terrain, which is dominated by hilly areas.

“Since this is a mountainous region, extraordinary stamina is required to approach the site of the fire,” he said.

He explained that current firefighting efforts rely on conventional ground-based methods, where officers on-site are spraying water and scouring the area to ensure no hotspots or new flames emerge.

Nevertheless, Suwoko admitted that ground-based efforts may not be sufficient. His office will request assistance for aerial firefighting or water bombing.

“If manual tools become overwhelmed, we will request assistance from helicopters,” he added.