Wildfires on Four East Java Mountains Spread Close to Settlements and Residents’ Plantations

Forest and land fires in East Java continued to spread as of Tuesday (20 October). According to the East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), at least four mountain and highland areas were still experiencing fires.

Satriyo Nurseno, head of emergency and logistics at the East Java BPBD, said that by Tuesday afternoon the affected areas included Bromo, Arjuno-Welirang, Sigiran and Tamankursi, at the foot of Mount Argopuro.

Conditions at each fire site were as follows:

Mount Bromo

Satriyo said the fire in the Bromo area first broke out on Thursday (15 October), on the eastern side of Mentigen, at Bukit Kembang in Pucuk Sari village, Lumbang sub-district, Probolinggo.

The blaze then spread and worsened, reaching the Mount Ringgit area in Sapikerep village, Sukapura sub-district, Probolinggo; Kesiman Block in the Lemah Pasar area of Wonokitri village, Tosari sub-district, Pasuruan regency; and Bukit Keciri, also known as Bukit Premium, in Ngadirejo village, Tosari sub-district, Pasuruan regency.

“The nearest fire is about one to two kilometres from residential areas, and local people’s activities have not been directly affected,” he said.

Satriyo said joint response teams and volunteers were continuing to work together to extinguish the fires in the Bromo area. Their efforts succeeded in putting out all the flames, although smoke remained.

“The fires have now been extinguished, but smoke is still visible in the Penanjakan area. The burned area covers 75.37 hectares; the data is still being updated,” he said.

The Bromo fires killed five joint response personnel and volunteers during firefighting efforts. They were Sukaris, 55, and Hendra Rony Wagiyanata, 33, from the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park Agency (TNBTS); Wisnu Yuda Pratama, 25, and Sefriel Ardiansyah, 19, employees of a hotel near the site; and Munawi, 44, a member of the Forest Ranger Partner Community (MMP).

One injured person remained: Suraji, 40, a security guard at a hotel near the fire. He was still receiving intensive treatment at Dr Soetomo Regional General Hospital in Surabaya for his burn injuries.

Mount Sigiran

A fire also broke out above Surga Cendono, in the Mount Sigiran area of Begaganlimo village, Gondang sub-district, Mojokerto regency. It began a week earlier, on Tuesday (13 October).

Satriyo said the fire was about five to six kilometres from nearby residential areas. Local activities had not been directly affected.

“Today, the joint team is monitoring the border between Pasuruan and Mojokerto regencies. Based on the monitoring, the fire is moving towards Mojokerto,” he said.

He said the East Java BPBD, the Tahura conservation area authority and the Mojokerto Regency BPBD would continue monitoring the fire and coordinating with relevant parties.

“The flames remain on slopes and ridgelines that are difficult for the joint team to reach, so access is hampering efforts at the site,” he said.

Mount Arjuno-Welirang

Fire has also affected the Mount Arjuno-Welirang area, specifically Mount Ringgit in Ledug village, Prigen sub-district, Pasuruan regency, since Friday (16 October).

Satriyo said flames were still visible at Cemoro Mencil Peak and Limas Peak in Pasuruan regency. The fire was also moving south towards Singosari in Malang regency.

“Meanwhile, in the Petungombo area of Tambaksari village, Pasuruan regency, the fire has spread to residents’ plantations,” he said.

Joint response teams were creating firebreaks at Cemoro Mencil Peak and in the Limas Peak area to prevent the flames from spreading further.

“The nearest fire is about two to three kilometres from residential areas, and local people’s activities have not been directly affected,” he said.

Mount Argopuro

Satriyo said fires were also burning in Tamankursi, Sumbermalang sub-district, Situbondo regency. Flames were detected in the foothills of Mount Argopuro on Thursday (15 October).

“Fires are still visible in the Mount Argopuro area,” Satriyo said.

The fire in Situbondo was also reported to have spread partly into Probolinggo and Jember. Satriyo said responders faced difficulties because the flames were in steep, hard-to-reach terrain.

“The joint team is continuing to monitor from a distance because the fire is difficult to access. The nearest fire is about 15 to 20 kilometres from residential areas, and local people’s activities have not been directly affected,” he said.

Satriyo added that the extent of the area burned across the four mountain and highland locations in East Java was still being assessed.