Ministry of Forestry extinguishes savanna fire on Bukit Sempana, East Lombok

The Ministry of Forestry, through the Forest Fire Control Brigade for the Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara region, together with the Forest Management Unit (KPH) Region II of West Nusa Tenggara, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), and the National Police, has successfully extinguished a forest fire on Bukit Sempana, Sembalun District, East Lombok Regency. Head of the Regional Forest Fire Control Brigade for Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara, Bambang Setyo Antoko, stated that in addition to putting out the fire, the joint team also evacuated 25 hikers and tourists from the potential spread of the flames. “The fire affected approximately 282 hectares of protected forest managed by KPH Region II NTB. The vegetation burned consisted of savanna, shrubs, and pine trees. As of Thursday (11/6), the fire was declared extinguished,” he said in a written statement from Mataram on Friday. The firefighting operation on Bukit Sempana took place under challenging field conditions. The joint team had to navigate steep mountainous terrain, fog, and winds of around 12 kilometres per hour. The fire was first detected on Tuesday (9/6) at around 17.00 WITA from the direction of Swela Pringabaya before spreading to Bukit Sempana. Officers from the Sembalun Resort immediately carried out initial suppression efforts until nightfall, but these were hampered by limited personnel, logistics, difficult terrain, and darkness. After receiving information from KPH Region II NTB, the team from Section III of the Java Bali Nusa Tenggara Forest Fire Control Brigade departed for the location at 20.19 WITA and arrived at the Sembalun Resort at 22.52 WITA. The following day, the team continued the firefighting operation from the Sembalun Resort towards Bukit Sempana. Personnel carried firefighting equipment such as jet shooters, beaters, machetes, and field gear. After reaching the foot of Bukit Sempana, the team dispersed towards the fire spots and handled the burned areas. Further suppression was carried out on Thursday (11/6) from 08.30 WITA until 16.00 WITA. “The team managed to extinguish the last fire spot before it could spread to other locations,” said Bambang. “At the same time, we evacuated 25 hikers to prevent risks from changes in wind direction and the spread of fire in the field,” he added. Regarding the cause of the fire, Bambang said that officers are still conducting a thorough investigation. Initial information from the field indicates suspected illegal hunting activities in the area. “We are still investigating this suspicion with relevant parties. If it is confirmed that the fire was triggered by illegal hunting, this is a serious concern because the impact is not only damage to the forest area but also a threat to the safety of hikers, local communities, and field officers,” said Bambang. Meanwhile, Director General of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Forestry, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, stated that forest fire control is a crucial part of protecting forest areas and public safety. “They work in difficult terrain, often with limited access, to ensure the fire does not cause wider damage. The Ministry of Forestry continues to strengthen rapid response, field collaboration, hotspot monitoring, and prevention education so that fire incidents can be controlled as early as possible,” said Januanto. He added that the forest area in Sembalun holds important ecological and social value for the people of NTB. Therefore, every fire incident must serve as a reminder that forest protection cannot be solely the responsibility of field officers. The Ministry of Forestry urges local governments, territorial apparatuses, area managers, forest-adjacent communities, and visitors to increase their vigilance against the potential for forest fires.