Water Bombing Operations for Bromo Forest Fires Halted Due to Weather

Water bombing operations to extinguish forest and land fires in the Mount Bromo area were forced to stop earlier than scheduled on Thursday due to adverse weather conditions. “Today’s water bombing operation from the helicopter was halted earlier than planned; the weather was very unfavourable,” said Gatot Subroto, Head of the East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), in Surabaya on Thursday. Despite the suspension, the joint task force is refining its strategy to maximise the golden time for firefighting on Friday morning. This approach aims to optimise suppression effectiveness before weather conditions and wind patterns change drastically during the day. Gatot explained that coordination between units would be tightened, involving the helicopter team, drone operators, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), and ground personnel. “Additionally, the schedule and flight patterns of drones in the affected area must be accurately communicated before operations begin to ensure the safety of firefighting helicopter flights,” he said. The total area affected by the fire in Bromo has now reached approximately 1,120.3 hectares, though this figure remains dynamic as remapping and data collection continue in the field. The natural vegetation impacted includes mountain pine, mentigen, acacia, and shrubs. There have been no reported casualties during the firefighting efforts. Fire control measures are being carried out intensively through close coordination between the East Java Provincial BPBD, the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS) Centre, and the BPBD offices of Probolinggo, Malang, and Lumajang Regencies. The BMKG is also involved in monitoring wind direction and weather dynamics. Joint teams are combing all accessible burned areas using manual and mechanical methods, including beaters, backpack blower sprayers, fire engine units, Komodo tactical vehicles, and water tanker trucks for damping down. The aerial operation today deployed three helicopters to priority target points in the Seruni Bromo area and Bukit Kingkong/Bukit Cinta, consisting of two National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) helicopters and one East Java Provincial Government helicopter.