Indonesian authorities extinguish 30-hectare fire in Rinjani National Park

A significant forest fire in Indonesia's Rinjani National Park has been brought under control, with authorities successfully extinguishing flames that consumed approximately 30 hectares of land. The blaze, located in the Sembalun sub-district of East Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, primarily impacted dry savanna and shrub vegetation.

The Ministry of Forestry, through the Forest Fire Control Center for the Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara Region, in coordination with the Rinjani National Park Center and a joint team, deployed personnel and resources to combat the fire. The rapid response was initiated after receiving a report, leading to the containment of the main fire on Saturday, August 8.

Following the initial extinguishment, teams conducted mop-up operations and cooling procedures to ensure no embers remained that could reignite the fire. This meticulous follow-up is crucial given the highly flammable nature of the savanna and shrubland, especially during the dry season. The Rinjani National Park is a vital conservation area in West Nusa Tenggara, crucial for biodiversity, habitat protection, water regulation, and ecosystem sustainability.

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Don't wait for the fire to grow large. Utilize our early warning system through hotspot monitoring via Sipongi+ and other technologies, conduct early detection and handle it as early as possible. Every early prevention and mitigation effort is an important step to keep the forest sustainable.

Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni highlighted the critical role of early detection and rapid response in managing forest and land fires. He urged the use of early warning systems, including hot spot monitoring via the Sipongi+ application and other technologies, to prevent fires from escalating. "Don't wait for the fire to grow large. Utilize our early warning system... conduct early detection and handle it as early as possible," Antoni stated.

Bambang Setyo Antoko, head of the Forest Fire Control Center, underscored that speed and cross-sector collaboration were key to preventing the spread of the fire. He emphasized that every fire incident in a conservation area requires an immediate response, with the swift actions of Manggala Agni (firefighters) alongside park management and other field elements being crucial for early containment.

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Every fire incident in a conservation area must be responded to as early as possible. The speed of Manggala Agni together with the park management and all elements in the field in carrying out firefighting is the key to early mitigation of forest fires.