Situbondo-Bondowoso Border Forest Fire Reaches 4 Hectares

The Situbondo Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of East Java has reported that a forest and land fire on the Arak-Arak Bondowoso highway, bordering Situbondo, reached approximately four hectares on Sunday. Puriyono, the Coordinator of the Operations Control Centre (Pusdalops) for BPBD Situbondo, stated that the fire in Gunung Malang Village, Suboh District, was successfully extinguished after joint teams from BPBD Situbondo, BPBD Bondowoso, the Fire Department, TNI, and Polri arrived at the scene to combat the flames using manual tools. “We received information regarding the forest and land fire at around 5:45 PM WIB, after which officers arrived at the location to perform spraying, use manual beaters, and create firebreaks to prevent further spread,” he said when contacted in Situdondo on Sunday night. The cause of the fire, which affected teak leaves on the forest floor in the Mlandingan area, Panarukan, Bondowoso, is currently under investigation by the police and Perhutani. Puriyono added that measures have been taken in coordination with local sub-districts, villages, and local police and military units. BPBD Situbondo has urged the public to remain vigilant against the potential for forest and land fires during the dry season, particularly due to strong winds, noting that community awareness and active participation are essential in preventing such disasters.