en.malanginspirasi.com – Efforts to extinguish forest and land fires in the Ijen Crater area, Banyuwangi Regency, East Java Province, have been bolstered by an aerial operation utilizing a water-bombing helicopter.
A helicopter belonging to the East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) arrived at Paltuding, Ijen Crater, on Sunday morning (September 6) and was immediately deployed to help extinguish flames in terrain that is difficult to access by land.
Banyuwangi Regent Ipuk Fiestiandani commended the East Java Provincial Government for its swift response to the request for helicopter assistance.
“Thank God, our request for water-bombing helicopter assistance was quickly answered by the East Java Provincial Government. Thank you, Madam Governor; hopefully, the fire at Ijen Crater will be extinguished soon,” said Ipuk.
Bagio, a technical expert with the East Java BPBD, stated that the aerial firefighting operation is prioritizing the area around the hiking trail. This area is considered crucial as it is a popular tourist destination visited by many, including international tourists.
“For this (aerial) firefighting operation, we are prioritizing the hiking trail,” said Bagio.
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According to him, the number of water drops that can be performed in a single day cannot yet be determined, as it depends on the availability of water sources and weather conditions in the Mount Ijen area.
“In a place like Mount Semeru, we might manage 20 drops a day because the water source is close by. Here (at Ijen), we can’t say for sure; it depends on the weather. Especially since the winds up there are very strong,” he noted.
To meet water requirements, personnel have prepared several sources, including a small reservoir (embung) in the Medco Geothermal area.
Bagio added that the East Java BPBD would also propose the construction of dedicated reservoirs to Perhutani and the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) in the Ijen area as part of preparedness measures for similar fires in the future.
“The reality is that, in many parts of East Java, we aren’t fully prepared for this. We often have to draw water from private ponds, hotels, or farmers’ reservoirs—though that is acceptable during an emergency,” Bagio said. The area surrounding the fire site has been cleared of tourists. Hiking trails remain closed while containment efforts are underway.
“Personnel on the ground are continuously monitoring the fire visually. This monitoring is being conducted to identify priority hotspots before helicopters are deployed,” he said.
The Head of the East Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA), Nur Patria Murniawan, added that helicopters have been directed to extinguish two active hotspots in the upstream area.
“Specifically, the one heading toward the hiking trail and another clearly moving downslope. We must prevent the fire from descending further and spreading to Mount Ranti,” Patria said.
Patria explained that one of the fire sites is located in an elongated area sloping downwards, but the terrain features deep ravines.
Meanwhile, the fire’s upward progression has reportedly stalled near the crater rim. However, the terrain is complex, characterized by numerous labyrinth-like ridges.
These conditions are a key factor in determining the aerial firefighting strategy, including the selection of water sources for the helicopters.
“Regarding water sourcing, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has confirmed that water will be drawn from two reservoirs at the Medco site, as it is the closest option and the most feasible in terms of navigating obstacles,” he explained.
