Puan Urges Strengthened Firefighting Operations for Mount Bromo Wildfires: Prevent Further Damage!

Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Puan Maharani has urged the government to promptly resolve the forest and land fires (karhutla) occurring in the Mount Bromo area of East Java.

According to her, the closure of all tourist access to Mount Bromo as a result of the fires is an appropriate step amid the firefighting efforts being undertaken by the government.

“Closing the area is a necessary measure to provide maximum space for the firefighting process and to prevent new risks to tourists,” Puan said in a statement on Monday, 10 August 2026.

Puan then asked the government to ensure that the firefighting operations in the Bromo area have a strong unified command, adequate personnel and equipment support.

“As well as supervision of all vulnerable points so that fires that have been brought under control do not reignite or spread to other areas. The current priority must be clear: extinguish the fire as quickly as possible, prevent the expansion of damage, and protect surrounding communities from its knock-on effects,” she said.

She said the government must take effective measures so that ground and aerial firefighting is directed based on mapping of fire movement, wind conditions, dry vegetation, and areas of high ecological value.

“At the same time, air quality and the potential spread of smoke to residential areas must continue to be monitored,” she added.

On the other hand, Puan asked the government to monitor the condition of national parks and other forest areas experiencing forest and land fires. She stressed that public safety must be the top priority.

Puan made these remarks following the forest and land fires in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, which continue to expand and have nearly reached residential areas.

According to Puan, this shows that forest and land fires are no longer merely an environmental issue. Because when fire begins to enter people’s living spaces, the nature of the problem changes.

“This is no longer an environmental issue, but has become a threat to the safety of residents, assets, health, and the continuity of local economic activity,” Puan explained.

Puan also emphasised the importance of forest and land fire disaster preparedness for communities around the affected areas, given that severe fires can cause smoke haze that can adversely affect public health and activities.

“Local governments must prepare health services and special protection for children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with respiratory disorders if air quality deteriorates,” Puan said.