4 Hectares of Land in Sukabumi's Gunung Geulis Area Burned, Fire Extinguished Wednesday Night

A forest fire scorched approximately 4 hectares of land in the Gunung Geulis area of Sukabumi, West Java, on Tuesday evening. The blaze, which reportedly started near Pasir Bitung village, quickly spread through dry bamboo groves and underbrush. Joint forces from the police, military, and local community worked tirelessly to combat the flames.

“

We, along with related elements and the community, moved quickly to extinguish the fire. Alhamdulillah, around 9 p.m. the fire was successfully extinguished.

Local police chief AKP Awan Ridwan stated that the fire was discovered around 7 p.m. and was successfully extinguished by 9 p.m. He noted that the mountainous terrain and dry conditions, including abundant dry bamboo leaves and branches, contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, especially when fanned by the wind. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Authorities are urging residents to exercise caution and avoid careless burning, particularly when clearing land. They also advise against discarding cigarette butts in flammable areas. Continuous monitoring of the site is underway to ensure no flare-ups occur. The incident highlights the ongoing risk of forest and land fires in the region, especially during dry periods.

“

For the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.

According to Hadi Rahmat, a public relations official at the West Java Provincial Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), Sukabumi has experienced 15 forest and land fires in August alone, affecting a total of 49.2 hectares.

“

The land affected by forest and land fires is 49.2 hectares.