Mount Bromo wildfire mostly contained after scorching 900 hectares
Firefighters contain most of a wildfire at Indonesia's Mount Bromo, but hot spots remain; peat fires elsewhere cause unhealthy air and school closures.
Firefighters in Indonesia have largely contained a wildfire that has burned nearly 900 hectares (2,224 acres) of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park on Java island, though several hot spots remain active, according to park officials.
The fire, which started last week, has damaged dry grassland, vegetation, and protected edelweiss flowers in the park, said Rudijanta Tjahja Nugraha, the park's head. The popular tourist destination of Mount Bromo, known for its volcanic landscape, has been closed to visitors while crews work to prevent the blaze from spreading further into the conservation zone.
Active hot spots are concentrated in four areas: Watangan, Argowulan, Dingklik-Pakis, and Bincil-Mungal. Ground teams and aerial operations are being used to extinguish the remaining flames and prevent flare-ups.
"We are not only trying to put out the fire, but also ensuring it is completely extinguished and does not reemerge," Nugraha said.
The Bromo fire is part of a broader wildfire crisis during Indonesia's dry season. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that nearly 48,900 hectares (121,000 acres) of peatland have burned across six provinces, with the largest area affected in West Kalimantan on Borneo island.
In Pontianak, the provincial capital, schools have suspended in-person classes as air quality has deteriorated to unhealthy levels and health officials have noted a rise in respiratory illnesses.
The government has deployed more than 35 aircraft, including water-bombing helicopters and patrol planes, to support firefighting efforts on Sumatra and Borneo.
"Aerial operations are supporting ground operations which are especially critical in peatland areas," said BNPB chief Suharyanto. "Because peat fires can continue smoldering underground long after surface flames disappear and can reignite if not fully extinguished."
Peatland fires produce dense smoke that can worsen air quality and increase health risks, sometimes affecting neighboring countries. Satellite imagery has shown haze drifting from West Kalimantan into Malaysia on several days this month.
Forest and peat fires are an annual problem in Indonesia, often started illegally to clear land for planting, and periodically blanket parts of Southeast Asia in hazardous haze.