Arjuno-Welirang Climbing Is Reopened After The Fire

Archival photos. Mount Arjuno Welirang can be seen from the Batu City area, East Java. (ANTARA/Vicki Febrianto)

MALANG - Technical Management Unit (UPT) of the Grand Forest Park (Tahura) Raden Soerjo stated that the climb of Mount Arjuno-Welirang in the East Java region was reopened after a fire broke out some time ago.

The head of Tahura Raden Soerjo, Ahmad Wahyudi, said that currently the fire in the Mount Arjuno area had been extinguished, so it was reopened for climbing activities.

"It has been reopened, conditions have been extinguished," Wahyudi was quoted as saying by ANTARA, Monday, May 29.

Wahyudi explained that the fire that occurred in the Gumandar area, Pasuruan Regency caused a 58 hectare area to be damaged. Currently, Tahura Raden Soerjo is conducting post-fire observations that occurred on May 25, 2023.

According to him, with the status of a Biosphere Reserve by The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), it is hoped that there will be natural improvements, considering that the majority of the burned material is bushes.

"We will see what natural conditions are, if it can be natural succession, it will be natural. Conservation areas are like that. Yesterday the majority of the bushes burned, not trees," he said.

It is hoped that climbers who will climb to Mount Arjuno-Welirang will be aware of the potential for fires, considering that this time they have started entering the summer.

In addition, climbers are also expected to be vigilant in using equipment, especially when cooking, not making spurious flames and bringing enough water reserves to avoid dehydration.

"Travelers are expected to be aware of the dangers of fires, they must also be vigilant in using their equipment. Do not make flames, and bring enough water reserves to avoid dehydration," he said.

Mount Arjuno, located next to Mount Welirang, includes Mount Kembar I, and Mount Kembar II. The peak of Mount Arjuno is located in the same back as the top of Mount Welirang, and is better known as the Arjuno-Welirang complex.

Mount Arjuno is the second-highest mountain in East Java, with a height of 3,339 meters above sea level (masl). Meanwhile, Mount Welirang has an altitude of 3,156 meters above sea level.

In October 2019, a large fire hit the Mount Arjuno area and caused damage to an area of 3,000 hectares. At that time, it was a long forest fire incident due to the strong wind conditions and made it difficult to extinguish the fire.