Menhut Hands Over Investigation into the Causes of Karhutla in Bromo to Authorized Agencies

Bromo after the eruption/ Photo: ANTARA

JAKARTA - Minister of Forestry (Menhut) Raja Juli Antoni entrusts the investigation process into the causes of forest and land fires (karhutla) in the Bromo Mountain area, East Java to law enforcement officials.

"(Investigation) we leave to law enforcement," said Menhut, when asked about the possibility of intentional elements that triggered the fire, in a press statement delivered at the Bromo Mountain Area, East Java, Sunday.

Menhut emphasized that law enforcement officers have a strong commitment to take firm action against any party who is proven to have engaged in prohibited activities that trigger forest and land fires.

"Anyone who burns forests and land will get a proportionate punishment," he said.

The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS) Headquarters, previously on Friday (7/8), conveyed that the cause of the fire in the Bromo Mountain area was allegedly due to human activity.

The suspicion was based on the emergence of the starting point of the fire in the Bantengan Block area.

The TNBTS Headquarters said there was a traditional path or a passage connecting Arjosari Village with Ranu Pani at the location.

The TNBTS party argues that there is a possibility of activity making a fireplace during cold weather in the area, but it is not extinguished properly.

Therefore, the government appeals to the public to avoid using fire when carrying out activities in forest areas because it can trigger the recurrence of the fire event.

Menhut added that the weather conditions during the El Nino phenomenon had an impact on the dry season which lasted longer.

"Once again, please don't play with fire," said Raja Juli.

During his visit to Mount Bromo, Menhut directly reviewed the fire extinguishing using a water bombing helicopter or water bomber in a forest area located in the Probolinggo Regency area, East Java.

Menhut Raja Juli was accompanied by the Deputy Governor of East Java Emil Elestianto Dardak, along with a number of regional officials from Probolinggo Regency.