Monitoring Fires At The Peak Of Mount Unup-Ungup Banyuwangi, BPBD: We Can't Do Much

Banyuwangi BPBD officers, East Java, monitored the forest fires and land of Mount Merapi Unggup-Ungup. Tuesday (20/8/2024) ANTARA/HO-BPBD Banyuwangi

The Banyuwangi Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) monitors the forest and land fires at the top of Mount Merapi Ungup-Ungup, Tuesday, August 20.

Head of BPBD Banyuwangi Regency Danang Hartanto said the forest fire on Mount Merapi Unggup-Ungup which has a height of about 800 meters above sea level (masl) had occurred since Monday 19 August night.

"Currently we are at the location, and we cannot do much because the location of the fire at the top of the mountain, access is also difficult, using manual is very dangerous for officers," he said when contacted in Banyuwangi, East Java.

According to Danang, BPBD officers to date are monitoring the Mount Merapi Unggup-Ungup forest fire in the Mount Ijen area.

He said the location of the mountain fire was far from residential areas and did not endanger the people around the location.

"If the residential area is very far away, but we will continue to monitor the hotspots. Usually on the slopes of the mountain there are steep ones and the fire will be cut off there," said Danang.

However, he continued, if the forest and land fires at the top of Mount Merapi Unup-Ungup never extinguish and endanger the surrounding population, they will bring in helicopters.

"If it endangers the surrounding community, of course we coordinate to bring in helicopters," said Danang.