Arya News - Indonesia’s Mount Semeru fires spreading as East Java experiences extreme drought
JAKARTA – Forest fires around Mount Semeru in Lumajang regency, East Java, have burned 598 hectares on Monday, with two main fires in Senduro district.
East Java Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) executive director Gatot Soebroto said the affected areas were around Mount Kepolo, Jambangan area, Po’o forest and the Ayak-ayak alternative climbing route.
“Currently, there are two fire spots, in Argosari village’s B29 area and Ranu Pani’s Ranu Kembang area in Senduro district,” he said.
A joint team consisting of personnel from BPBD, the Indonesian Military (TNI), National Police, volunteers and locals tried to limit the fire from spreading by creating firebreaks in Ayak-ayak and Po’o.
Fire dousing efforts were also conducted along the Semeru climbing route between Post 1 and Post 2 to control fire spots and prevent fire from spreading to other areas.
Gatot said that difficult terrain was the biggest challenge.
“Fire locations are in cliffs which are very steep and the wind is blowing strongly causing fire to spread quickly,” he said.
Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS) management closed all climbing activities on 3,676-meter Mount Semeru on Aug. 26 for an indefinite time for climbers’ safety and to support forest fire handling.
“East Java BPBD and Lumajang BPBD are coordinating with TNBTS to expedite forest fire handling,” Gatot said.
The fires were exacerbated by extreme weather in East Java with the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency’s (BMKG) East Java Climatology Station issuing a warning on meteorological drought on Monday. Observations showed that most East Java experienced more than 60 consecutive days without rain, the threshold for extreme drought.
Rain distribution on Aug. 21-31 was low and BMKG forecasted that dry conditions will continue until Sept. 10 with a possibility of more than 90 percent.
“This condition may increase drought risks in agricultural lands, reduce raw water availability and trigger forest and fire fires,” BMKG said in the warning.
Semeru forest fires were first reported on Aug. 26 at about 8 p.m. The fires were initially detected in Ranu Kembang, west of Post 4 of the Semeru climbing route in Ranu Pani village.
The central government also took anticipatory measures by closing temporarily all climbing activities in nine national parks which have high vulnerability of forest fires.
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said on Monday that the policy was taken to reduce safety risks for climbers and maximize resources to handle forest fires in six priority provinces.
“There will be an official circular from the Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation director general,” he said after participating at a coordination meeting on forest fires in Palembang.
“But I can announce the temporary closures of nine national parks.”
Raja Juli said the closure was not to limit the public’s enthusiasm but for safety. He pointed to an incident in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park when 170 climbers were trapped by forest fires.
He said that forest fires in national parks presented difficulties in fire extinguisher operations. “Helicopters which should be focused to conduct water bombings in six priority provinces must be diverted to national parks,” he said.
“But because there are extraordinary fires in national parks, the helicopters are also deployed to the national parks.”
The closed national parks are Semeru trail in Bromo Tengger Semeru, Bukit Baka Bukit Raya, Kerinci Seblat, Mount Ciremai, Tambora, Manusela, Mount Gede Pangrango, Leuser and Lorentz.
Meanwhile, national parks still open with strict supervision are Mount Rinjani, Mount Merbabu, Mount Halimun Salak and Hyang Plateau Wildlife Sanctuary.