Indonesia’s Mount Bromo wildfire burns 51 hectares as crews battle hotspots
Key Takeaways
- The wildfire burned about 51 hectares of protected land.
- Hundreds of firefighters and volunteers joined the operation.
- Most areas were controlled, but isolated hotspots remained.
Firefighters and volunteers used water tankers and makeshift equipment to contain the East Java blaze as strong winds and volcanic terrain slowed operations.
Firefighters and volunteers battled a wildfire for a third day at Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java on Wednesday after flames burned about 51 hectares of protected savannah and forest.
Footage showed crews walking across the lower hillside as flames moved through dry vegetation. Thick smoke covered blackened slopes while teams used water tankers, portable sprayers and fire beaters to contain the blaze.
The fire started on Monday and spread quickly through the national park. Authorities closed three access routes and restricted sections of the tourist area as hundreds of personnel joined the operation.
"We are entering the third day of the firefighting efforts in the Mount Bromo area. Officers resumed suppression operations from early this morning until 16:30 this afternoon, and praise be to God, the fire is starting to die down," said a volunteer.
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Crews also relied on basic equipment to stop the flames from spreading.
"Today, we were able to suppress the flames using makeshift equipment (fire beaters/kepyok to smash the fire and prevent it from spreading). We also had support from water spraying trucks provided by members of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) in the national park area," added another.
Strong winds and the park's rugged volcanic terrain made the operation more difficult. By Wednesday evening, firefighters said most of the affected area was under control, although some hotspots remained.
"As of today, there are still remaining spots of fire that have not been put out, although the vast majority of the burned area has been successfully controlled," noted Bambang Suriyono, Head of Administration Sub-division at the park, adding that the total area burned is approximately 51 hectares.
Residents and tourists were advised to avoid closed areas, follow instructions from park officials and emergency services, and refrain from using open flames while operations continued.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
