Jakarta (AsiaNews) – The wildfire in Mount Bromo's Tengger Semeru National Park is one of the largest reported this week in Indonesia with the burnt area estimated, as of today, at between 120 and 127 hectares.
The blaze has destroyed vegetation typical of the Bromo landscape, including mountain casuarina, mentigi, acacia, and various shrubs. It has also spread from Probolinggo Regency to Malang Regency.
As a prolonged dry season increases the risk across the country, Indonesia is facing a series of forest fires, with large ones reported in several areas, including Mount Gede Pangrango National Park, West Java Province, and the Bukit Lalang Panjang tourist area, Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan.
Drought, strong winds, and extremely dry vegetation have contributed to the rapid spread of the wildfires. The El Niño phenomenon, combined with the influence of the dry Australian monsoon, has increased the occurrence of drought and forest fires.
As a result, Indonesia’s Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) has issued a warning for different parts of the country.
Wildfire over 120 hectares in Mount Bromo
The blaze was first detected on Monday in the upper Watu Gede area. It subsequently intensified near the Bantengan Block, spreading to surrounding areas due to dry conditions and strong winds.
Several fire fronts crossed the border between Probolinggo and Malang, with flames spreading approximately 1.5 kilometres into Malang Regency.
Gatot Subroto, director of Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), said THAT teams were dispatched to the scene shortly after the fire was reported. However, on the fourth day, several fires and areas were still being detected where the fire was still smouldering.
For firefighters, the difficult terrain remains one of the greatest challenges. Some fires are located on the steep slopes of a caldera, difficult to reach by land. Hundreds of firefighters were mobilised to contain the fire.
The operation also received air support. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has deployed two helicopters for firefighting operations.
The East Java BPBD deployed a drone equipped with a water spray system with a capacity of approximately 150 litres. Firebreaks were created to prevent the flames from spreading, while water was sprayed on unburnt areas.
Restricted tourist access
The fire has directly impacted tourist activities around Mount Bromo. To protect visitors and allow firefighters to operate safely, several access routes to the tourist area have been closed or restricted.
Access through Jemplang-Coban Trisula, Malang Regency, and Senduro, Lumajang Regency, has been temporarily suspended. Access through Cemoro Lawang, Probolinggo Regency, and Wonokitri, Pasuruan Regency, remains open, but with restrictions. Visitors are only allowed to go as far as the Sea of Sand, while the savannah area has been completely closed.
The latest Bromo forest wildfire brought back memories of the major fire of 2023. At the time, a fire in the Watangan Valley savannah area was reportedly started by a flare used during a pre-wedding photoshoot.
More wildfires reported
Another fire has been reported in Mount Gede Pangrango National Park, Sukabumi Regency, West Java. Flames broke out around 2:30 pm, yesterday, in the central part of the Suryakencana Meadow, a key area along the Mount Gede hiking route.
A nine-second video showing the flames and thick smoke rising from the dry grass was widely shared via messaging apps.
Aliyudin, a volunteer, confirmed the incident, saying the fire was quickly extinguished before it could spread. According to fellow volunteers, the blaze was apparently caused by a camping stove.
Hikers, street vendors, porters, and volunteers in the area immediately joined efforts to put out the flames using whatever equipment they could find.
Although the fire was extinguished, the incident prompted park authorities to temporarily close hiking trails to Mount Gede and Mount Pangrango.
Other forest and land fires have also been reported in Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan, devastating the Bukit Lalang Panjang tourist area, which is located between the villages of Pembihingan and Lalang Panjang, in Pemahan District.
The area is known for its natural beauty, with vast expanses of tall grass covering rolling hills. However, dry vegetation during the prolonged dry season makes the landscape particularly vulnerable to fire.
A growing threat
The wildfires in Bromo, Mount Gede, and Ketapang highlight the growing vulnerability of Indonesia's forests and natural tourism areas during prolonged droughts.
Human-caused fires can spread rapidly when combined with dry vegetation and strong winds.
In recent decades, Indonesia has repeatedly faced criticism from its neighbours, particularly Singapore and Malaysia, for its management of large-scale fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
Smoke from major fires in Indonesia occasionally crosses national borders, sending a dense haze that disrupts air traffic and raises serious public health concerns.
The recurring fires underscore the need for greater vigilance during the dry season.
Forests are not simply tourist destinations. They are fragile ecosystems that can take years, even decades, to recover from severe fires. Prevention is therefore far more effective.
