BPBD East Java Proposes Additional Helicopters To Handle Mount Arjuno's Forest And Land Fires

The helicopter used for handling forest and land fires on Mount Arjuno. BETWEEN/HO-BPBD East Java

The East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has proposed an additional helicopter fleet from one unit that is used to maximize the handling of forest and land fires (karhutla) on Mount Arjuno.

"We ask for suggestions and input from various parties regarding efforts to accelerate the handling of forest and land fires on Mount Arjuno. Including the proposal to BNPB so that there is additional helicopter assistance for water bombing activities," said Head of East Java BPBD, Gatot Soebroto, in Pasuruan quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, September 6.

He said the strong wind conditions around the People's Forest Park (Tahura) area R. Soerjo caused forest and land fires (Karhutla) in the Mount Arjuno area to expand to the Batu City and Mojokerto Regency.

"Currently, the water bombing activity and the area of land affected by forest and land fires have now reached 3,910 hectares," he said.

The hotspots read in Sipongi also increased from the initial 7 points, then expanded by 50 points and Monday night jumped to 156 points.

Kadishut Jatim Djumadi also conveyed the importance of efforts to accelerate the handling of Karhutla in the Tahura area R. Soerjo.

Because, according to him, the Tahura area is considered very strategic considering the existence of three mountains, namely, Mount Arjuno, Mount Welirang and Mount Anjasmoro.

The area of Tahura R. Soerjo which reached 27,868 is also included in six areas, namely, Pasuruan Regency, Malang Regency, Batu City, Kediri Regency, Jombang Regency, and Mojokerto Regency.

He said, Dishut together with a number of volunteers had also involved various community groups to extinguish the fire via land.

"Today, about 339 people have been above to extinguish the fire. They come from the Tretes, Lawang and Mojokerto monitoring posts," he said.