Hotspot reappears on Mount Butak as difficult terrain hampers firefighting

A fire hotspot has reappeared on Mount Butak in East Java, at the same location where a previous blaze was declared extinguished on Tuesday. Perhutani confirmed the new fire on Friday.

The hotspot was detected in Plot 100 of the Pujon Selatan Forest Management Resort, administratively within Pujon Kidul village in Malang regency. The fire lies between Posts 3 and 4, about one kilometre from the hiking route, rather than on the trail itself.

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The fire reignited at 10 a.m. today after it had previously been extinguished. It is the same location.

Crews initially tried to put out the flames manually. They stopped at around 3 p.m. after strong winds developed and the terrain proved difficult to reach from the ground. Kelik Djatmiko, administrator of Perhutani’s Malang unit, said conditions made ground suppression dangerous for the firefighting team.

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The situation does not allow firefighting from the ground, and it could endanger the firefighting team.

Officials will map the area and coordinate the next response with Malang’s regional disaster management agency. Kelik said helicopter water bombing could be the best option, and possibly the only way to fight the fire because of the difficult terrain and strong winds.

The earlier Mount Butak fire was estimated to have affected 15 hectares of protected forest. The burned vegetation included shrubs and trees that were still growing.

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It may be the only way to put it out, because the terrain is difficult and the wind is strong.