Surging Wildfires in Sragen: 119 Cases Recorded Amid Scorching Dry Season
The number of forest and land fires (karhutla) in Sragen Regency has surged significantly over the past seven months. A total of 119 fire incidents have been recorded, and the figure is feared to rise further as the peak of the scorching dry season hits between August and September.
In response, the Sragen Regency Government, together with the police, military, Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), state forestry company Perhutani, and volunteer firefighters, is bolstering preparedness. The Sragen Police held a forest and land fire alert assembly on Thursday (6/8/2026) at the police headquarters to ensure all personnel and equipment are ready to face potential disasters. A total of 479 joint personnel from various agencies participated in the assembly as a form of vigilance and mitigation. In addition, seven fire engines have been placed on standby to ensure a rapid response on the ground.
Sragen Police Chief, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Dewiana Syamsu Indyasari, who led the assembly, stated that serious anticipatory measures must be taken for handling forest, land, and residential fires. Although the situation is currently considered under control, the dry season influenced by the El Niño phenomenon this year requires special attention.
‘The disaster situation in Sragen is still under control. However, there has been a recent increase in sugarcane field fires. Investigations concluded that the fires were triggered by the burning of post-harvest land residue without supervision, causing the flames to spread to other areas,’ Dewiana said.
The police and the Sragen BPBD have issued warnings to sugarcane field owners and the wider community to remain vigilant. Residents are urged to coordinate with local authorities if they intend to burn land on their private property to prevent the fire from getting out of control.
Head of the Sragen Satpol PP Fire Department, Tommy Isharyanto, revealed that the high number of fires has placed the Bumi Sukowati region among the top ten most fire-prone areas in Central Java. Data shows a sharp increase compared to the previous year. By the end of July 2026, 119 fires had been recorded, more than double the 56 incidents recorded during the same period in 2025.
‘Looking at the fire figures, Sragen is relatively high, both for house fires and land fires. We at the fire department handle fire suppression almost every day,’ Tommy said after attending a coordination meeting on forest and land fire anticipation.
Tommy explained that the main trigger for the rampant fires in Sragen is dominated by human error. In addition to unsupervised land burning activities, fires in residential areas are often triggered by unsafe electrical installations, such as the excessive use of stacked plugs, which causes high heat loads and short circuits.
The Sragen Police continue to collaborate synergistically with the Fire Department, BPBD, Perhutani, and military elements from the District Military Command and the 408th Infantry Battalion to intensify disaster awareness campaigns and mitigation efforts in all vulnerable areas. Patrols are being conducted as an early detection measure while enhancing preparedness for potential disasters, particularly land fires and fallen trees.