Three Days Hit By Forest And Land Fires, Damage To Balan National Park Area 160.61 Hectares

JAKARTA - Balai Taman Nasional Situbondo, East Java, noted that within three days from Monday (25/9) to Wednesday (27/9) the area of forest and land fires in the natural tourist area reached 160.61 hectares.

Public Relations of the Baluran Situbondo National Park, Joko Mulyono, said that the forest and land fires of Mount Balan that had occurred since Monday, September 25, 2023 reached more than 160 hectares because the gusts were so strong that the fire quickly spread.

"On the first and second days of forest fires, we reported 88.66 hectares, and the third day last Wednesday 71.95 hectares. Hopefully today the fire can be controlled," said Joko when contacted by Antara in Situbondo, East Java, Thursday.

He also said that this morning the national park officers assisted by volunteers from the Fire Care Community (MPA) and national park partners around 50 people returned to conduct sweeps to the location of the forest and land fires in the mountains of the wildlife asylum area.

According to Joko, national park officers monitored on Thursday (28/9) morning that smoke did not appear on Mount Baluran, indicating that forest fires and hotspots had begun to decrease.

"To ensure forest fires in Mount Baluran, this morning the Balan National Park officers assisted by volunteers from the Fire Care Community and national park partners again combed the hotspots," he said.

So far, Baluran National Park officers and assisted by volunteers to extinguish the fire using traditional fire extinguishers, namely geopyok and jet shooters.

The Nature Tourism Object of the Baluran Situbondo National Park has been temporarily closed since September 25-30, 2023 because road access is the only way for national park officers to operate and mobilize officers to deal with forest and land fires in the tourist area.