Wind Complicates Forest Fire Extinguishment in Mount Ciremai National Park, BMKG Reports

Forest and land fires (karhutla) have been ravaging the Mount Ciremai National Park (TNGC) since Monday (7/9/2026). Joint task forces are working hard to extinguish the flames despite facing various obstacles, including wind speed and directions that frequently change rapidly.

The Head of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) at the Kertajati Meteorological Station, Majalengka Regency, M. Syifaul Fuad, explained that wind speed measurements at the Penggung point yesterday reached 11 knots, or approximately 20 km/h. “This can accelerate or cause the area of the fire to expand rapidly,” Fuad told Republika on Thursday (10/9/2026).

He noted that an increase in wind speed is common during the peak of the dry season, as is currently occurring. According to him, the potential for strong winds is forecast to continue until October.

In addition to speed, he continued, the wind direction is also highly dynamic and frequently shifts, although it generally blows from the south to the east.

He further explained that wind direction becomes even more dynamic within the TNGC area due to its mountainous topography, as well as the influence of pressure differentials.

“The meeting of mountain winds and sea breezes from midday to late afternoon also causes the wind to change dynamically, in both direction and speed,” Fuad stated.

As reported, the forest and land fires in the TNGC area were first detected in the Cileutik Block, Singkup Village, Pasawahan District, Kuningan Regency, on Monday (7/9/2026) at approximately 12:00 WIB. The fire subsequently spread to the Cimaung and Manguntapa Blocks. The total area of the forest and land fire in TNGC is estimated to have reached 40 hectares, with the burnt area being dominated by rosewood (sonokeling) trees.