Indonesia’s Mount Bromo Wildfire Grows, National Park Shut as Firefighters Battle Flames

Indonesia has stepped up efforts to contain a rapidly expanding wildfire in Mount Bromo, deploying aircraft, helicopters and hundreds of firefighters as unusually dry conditions raise the risk of fires across the country.

The blaze has burned around 176 hectares (435 acres) inside the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java, one of Indonesia’s most popular tourist destinations. Authorities shut the park to visitors on Saturday and said it would remain closed until further notice.

Hundreds of firefighters, disaster management personnel, police officers, soldiers, park rangers and volunteers have been mobilised to battle the flames. Helicopters and drones are being used to identify and tackle hotspots, while ground crews are constructing firebreaks to prevent the fire from spreading.

Park chief Rudijanta Tjahja Nugraha said the difficult volcanic terrain was making firefighting operations particularly challenging. Some hotspots are located along steep slopes that are extremely difficult to access by land, slowing efforts to bring the blaze under control.

The Mount Bromo fire is among several wildfires reported in Indonesia as the country experiences an unusually dry season.

A forest and land fire was reported in Banyumas Regency in Central Java on Friday. Authorities said land-clearing activities triggered the blaze, which spread rapidly through dry vegetation. In West Java, another fire broke out in the Suryakencana Meadow area of Mount Gede Pangrango National Park, prompting authorities to temporarily close hiking routes to Mount Gede and Mount Pangrango.

Indonesia’s weather agency has warned that strong winds and extremely dry vegetation are accelerating the spread of fires. The El Niño weather pattern, along with seasonal dry winds from Australia, has heightened fire risks in several parts of the country.

Wildfires are a recurring problem during dry spells, particularly on Sumatra and Borneo, where illegal land clearing can trigger fires and contribute to hazardous haze across Southeast Asia.