Smoke and Hotspots Persist in Malang and Probolinggo after Bromo Forest Fires

Malang: Three locations within the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS) were still observed emitting smoke and harboring hotspots as of Sunday afternoon, September 13, 2026.

Joint personnel remain on standby to anticipate the potential spread of the forest and land fires.

Smoke was observed rising from two locations in the Sukapura District, Probolinggo Regency, and one location in the Jemplang area, Malang Regency. Steep terrain inaccessible by land routes hampered extinguishing efforts in the Malang area.

"Response efforts are ongoing. Personnel are carrying out extinguishing, wetting down, and monitoring operations at locations still emitting smoke or flames," said Malang Police Public Relations Officer AKP M. Budiono on Monday, September 14, 2026.

In the Probolinggo area, thick black smoke was still seen rising from the Jantur Block (or B29). Meanwhile, the Watangan Block in the same area still showed active flames and plumes of white smoke.

In the Malang area, white smoke was still rising from the Painem Block, which borders the Tosari District of Pasuruan Regency. However, the fire along the "Ancestral Trail" (Jalur Leluhur) in Ngadas Village has been successfully fully extinguished.

A joint team comprising the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and TNBTS officials is intensifying wetting-down operations at several vulnerable points. Cooling measures are specifically targeting the Batengan, Painem, and Kentongan Blocks.

"Just because the fire has been extinguished doesn't mean the response is over. Personnel continue to carry out cooling and monitoring because there are still locations emitting smoke that could potentially reignite," Budiono explained.

Previously, joint personnel had to traverse difficult terrain on foot and by motorcycle while carrying portable fire pumps. Aerial response capabilities—such as water-spraying drones or water-bombing helicopters—are now urgently needed to reach inaccessible cliff areas. Intensive monitoring operations remain centered at the Jemplang Post, involving personnel from the Malang Resort Police, the TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces), Manggala Agni, and local community members.

Malang Deputy Police Chief Commissioner Fahmi Amarullah, accompanied by the Poncokusumo local leadership team (Muspika), has also inspected the site and overseen the distribution of logistical aid.

To ensure public safety and facilitate firefighting efforts, the police have urged the public to stay away from the perimeter of the burning forest area. All joint personnel will remain on standby in the field until the situation is fully under control.

"We ask the public not to approach the fire sites. Aside from the hazardous terrain, doing so could also hinder the personnel currently engaged in firefighting and monitoring operations," said Budiono.