Forest Fires Continue to Rage Across 7 Mountains in East Java
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Seven mountains in East Java have not escaped the rage of forest fires during this year's ongoing dry season. They are Mount Bromo, Mount Semeru, Mount Raung, Mount Ijen, Mount Argopuro, Mount Butak, and Mount Lemongan.
Information obtained by Tempo indicates that another fire broke out in the Bromo area late Thursday, September 10, 2026. This time, the fire was located in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in Ngadisari Village, Probolinggo. "Waterbombing helicopters have been deployed for aerial operations to combat the forest fires in the Bromo area," said Isnugroho, Head of the Lumajang Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), on Friday, September 11, 2026.
According to Isnugroho, a fire also broke out on Mount Lemongan in Lumajang that same evening, burning approximately five hectares of land before being extinguished. "This morning, we rechecked to ensure there were no hotspots or smoldering stumps," he said.
Mount Butak, located on the border between Batu City and Blitar Regency, also caught fire. The Head of the East Java Regional Division of Perum Perhutani, Dewanto, monitored firefighting efforts on the mountain on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
The Head of the East Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency, Nur Patria Kurniawan, said the Yang Highlands wildlife sanctuary, also under the supervision of the Argopuro Mountains, and the Ijen Crater Nature Reserve, both under the supervision of the BBKSDA, also reported several hotspots, especially in Ijen.
Meanwhile, the forest fires on the eastern side of the Cikasur area, Mount Argopuro, are close to the borders of four regencies: Situbondo, Bondowoso, Probolinggo, and Jember. Information from the East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) states that approximately seven hectares of land were affected and the data collection process is still ongoing.
Nur could not yet confirm the cause of the fire, although officers found several animal snares before entering the area, as well as the trace of a campfire. "We will analyze it after it's all extinguished," he said.
Meanwhile, Eny Handayani, Deputy Administrator of the Bondowoso Forest Management Unit (KPH), Perum Perhutani, confirmed the fire on Mount Raung, which is located on the border between Jember, Banyuwangi, and Bondowoso Regencies. "The fire is at an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level," Eny told Tempo on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
The Geological Agency had previously issued a report on the fire on Mount Raung to clarify the presence of white smoke on the slopes of the volcano, which was linked to volcanic activity. This report was later corrected, stating that the smoke originated from wildfires.
Eny stated that it is difficult to find the perpetrators and evidence in every forest and land fire case. "But the cause is definitely human negligence."
Gatot Kuswinaryono, Assistant to Perhutani and Head of the Klakah Forest Management Unit (BKPH) of the Probolinggo Perum Perhutani Forest Management Unit (KPH), also confirmed that the fire in Lemongan was suspected to be human-caused. "It originated outside the forest area," Gatot said on Friday morning.
Read: Fires Threaten Bornean Orangutan Habitat: How Is Indonesia Responding?
