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Arjuno-Welirang Mountain Fire Reaches 146 Hectares
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Environment & Climate

Arjuno-Welirang Mountain Fire Reaches 146 Hectares

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • A forest and land fire in the Raden Soerjo Grand Forest Park on Mount Arjuno-Welirang has burned an estimated 146 hectares.
  • Firefighting efforts are challenged by the steep terrain, with the remaining hotspots located on slopes making them difficult to access.
  • A water-bombing helicopter is being used to combat the fire, while the cause of the blaze is still under investigation, though human activity is suspected.

A significant forest and land fire continues to rage in the Raden Soerjo Grand Forest Park on Mount Arjuno-Welirang, East Java, Indonesia. The blaze is estimated to have already consumed approximately 146 hectares of land. Head of the East Java Provincial Forestry Service, Jumadi, stated that this figure is a preliminary estimate and will be verified once the firefighting operations are fully completed.

140-odd hectares (estimated affected by forest and land fires), that was the first release, before the latest incidents.

— JumadiProviding an initial estimate of the burned area.

Ground crews are facing considerable difficulties in their efforts to extinguish the remaining hotspots. These are primarily located on steep slopes leading towards Arjuno Peak, with gradients reaching 60 to 70 degrees, making them extremely hard to reach. To overcome these access challenges, a joint team has deployed a water-bombing helicopter provided by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). This helicopter has a capacity of 1,000 liters of water, with refilling stations strategically located at sites like the Kaliandra pond, Taman Safari, and a BPBD Pasuruan water tank at Kaliandra Field to maintain operational efficiency.

Water bombing is currently underway. Other spots like Kembar 1, Kembar 2, and around Lapangan Kotak have been extinguished. Only one spot is currently being focused on.

— JumadiUpdating on the progress of firefighting operations.

Jumadi reported that water bombing is currently underway. While hotspots in areas like Kembar 1, Kembar 2, and around Lapangan Kotak have been extinguished, efforts are now focused on a single remaining area. The Forestry Service has not yet been able to assess the full extent of the damage to the ecosystem, including flora and fauna within the conservation area. The immediate priority remains extinguishing the fire completely.

We are concentrating first on extinguishing the fire. After that, we will evaluate the impact on the habitat.

— JumadiExplaining the priority of firefighting over impact assessment.

Regarding the cause of the fire, Jumadi could not definitively confirm whether it was accidental or intentional. However, he believes that human activity is closely linked to the ignition of the fire. The blaze initially started on Tuesday, August 18th, and the total affected area remains unconfirmed. Consequently, the Arjuno-Welirang mountain hiking trails have been temporarily closed since Wednesday, August 19th, with no set date for reopening.

If the fire was carried, it must have been by humans. But whether it was intentional or not, that we do not yet know.

— JumadiCommenting on the suspected cause of the fire.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNN Indonesia in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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