Day Eight, Mount Gede Fire Still Not Extinguished, 4 Smoke Points Still Being Monitored

Officers are trying to put out a fire on land around Wadon Crater, the Gede Mountain area of the Gede Pangrango National Park (TNGGP), Friday (7/8/2026) (ANTARA)

Cianjur - The fire around Wadon Crater, the Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park (TNGGP) area, has not completely extinguished until entering the eighth day, Thursday, August 13. Joint officers and volunteers are still monitoring and searching to ensure that there are no new fire points.

"However, this point is in a fairly isolated area so that the potential for fire to spread is considered relatively small," Sadtata said in a press statement, quoted on Thursday, August 13.

To prevent the fire from spreading again, officers have made a fire barrier with a width of about 2 meters. The barrier stretches from the west end to the east end of the fire-affected area.

Although the general condition shows an increasingly improving development, the search is still needed to ensure that all areas around the embers are completely extinguished.

Officers also continue to monitor the four smoke points found in the latest monitoring. This step is taken to prevent the re-emergence of fire that can spread to other areas.

One point of fire on the eastern bank is of concern because it has not been reached by officers. However, the relatively isolated location makes the potential for fire spread considered small.

Meanwhile, volunteers involved in the extinguishing process revealed that the terrain was one of the main obstacles. Sarmada, one of the volunteers, said that the location of the Gunung Gede Pangrango fire was outside the climbing route with very steep terrain and difficult to reach.

"If the obstacle is steep. Then outside the area, outside the climbing route, far from the climbing route. That's under the Racun Crater, that's the danger," he said.

According to Sarmada, the presence of toxic gas around the crater is also a threat to volunteers. Previously, there was a warning for officers and volunteers to be careful of the potential for toxic gas in the area.

The difficult terrain conditions make officers have to be careful in carrying out the search and extinguishing. The safety of personnel is one of the considerations in reaching the fire point which is in a difficult location.

In addition to the terrain and toxic gas potential, the limited water source also makes the extinguishing process difficult. Volunteers must take water from the Rhino Enclosure and carry it manually to the fire location.

"Taking water from the Rhino Enclosure to the location took 2 hours to pick up," he said.

The distance and terrain conditions make the distribution of water to the fire location take a long time. This condition is a challenge for volunteers who are still carrying out extinguishing and sifting.

Sarmada added that the wind conditions in the Gunung Gede Pangrango area also greatly affected the extinguishing process. The fire, which had almost gone out, could grow again when the wind blew.

"The fire is difficult, it is ignited by the wind. It is almost extinguished, we leave it, it is big again," he said.

Despite facing various obstacles, the volunteers still try to carry out the blackout by prioritizing safety. They hope the fire will not spread again, especially from points that are out of reach of officers.

Until now, monitoring and screening are still being carried out to ensure that the four smoke points found have been handled. Officers also continue to monitor one point of embers on the eastern bank so that it does not develop into a larger fire.

With this condition, the fire at Mount Gede Pangrango cannot be declared completely extinguished. Joint officers and volunteers still have to ensure that all affected areas are safe from the potential for the fire to reappear.