Water Bombing Helicopter Deployed to Extinguish Wildfires on Mount Ijen
A water bombing helicopter previously deployed to handle forest and land fires (karhutla) on Mount Semeru has now been reassigned to the Mount Ijen area.
The Head of the East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Gatot Soebroto, explained that the relocation was carried out after firefighting operations on the Semeru fires were officially closed.
“Ijen is experiencing a fire and we dispatched the water bombing helicopter following a request letter from the BKSDA and an emergency response letter from the Regent of Banyuwangi,” said Gatot on Monday (7/9).
As a result, Gatot said, the water bombing helicopter, which had previously been fighting fires in the Semeru area, was shifted to Banyuwangi and is operating via Bondowoso for firefighting operations on Ijen, which began on Sunday (6/9).
On Sunday (6/9), Gatot said the helicopter had carried out two water bombing sorties, each with a capacity of 1 tonne of water.
However, Gatot added, water bombing operations were temporarily halted on Monday as the helicopter underwent routine maintenance, and it will resume operations on Tuesday (8/9).
“On Mondays, as usual, the helicopter receives routine maintenance, so no water bombing is being carried out today. Water bombing will resume on Tuesday,” he said.
To date, the area affected by the fires on Ijen is recorded at 20 hectares, although this figure has not been updated as remapping has yet to be carried out.
“As of today, the data remains the same — the area affected by the fire is 20 hectares. The data cannot yet be updated because remapping has not been carried out,” he said.
He explained that the terrain on Ijen, which consists of steep cliffs and strong winds, has made things difficult for both ground teams and helicopter operations during water bombing.
“This is also what makes it difficult for the ground team to carry out firefighting and disrupts helicopter operations during water bombing, because the weather changes frequently and the winds are strong,” he said.
The current focus of firefighting efforts is concentrated on two points: Mount Merapi Ungup-ungup, Taman Sari, Licin District, Banyuwangi Regency, and Curah Macan Hamlet, Kalianyar Village, Ijen District, Bondowoso Regency.
“There are two focus areas being handled: Mount Merapi Ungup-ungup in Taman Sari, Licin District, Banyuwangi Regency, and Curah Macan Hamlet in Kalianyar Village, Ijen District, Bondowoso Regency,” said Gatot.