Bromo Fire, Forestry Ministry Conducts Aerial Operation and Ground Troops

Magelang: The Ministry of Forestry ensures firefighting efforts in the area of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS), East Java, are being stepped up.

This effort is carried out by utilizing the combination of aerial water-bombing and deployment of ground troops. “So we really utilize, first water bombing, second, ground troops,” Forest minister, Raja Juli Atoni in TNBTS, East Java, Sunday, August 9, 2026.

The decision to maximize air and land routes was made because according to the latest calculation of atmosphere condition from Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), the likelihood of conducting Weather Modification Operation (OMC) was low.

Therefore, all of the current firefighting strategies are fully focused on on-the-ground response until all of the fire hotspots are extinguished and TNBTS area confirmed that is saved to be opened again.

“Weather Modification Operation cannot be done until the next 10 days. I had called the head of BMKG earlier, there was also his staff who came earlier.  Mathematically, based on a technocratic calculation, it is almost impossible for there to be an OMC in the next 10 days,” Said Raja Juli.

He added that deployment of water-dropping helicopter would not be stopped before the situation fully under-control and the conservation area could operate normally.

“Today there are 30 water-bombings, there are still 10 left as we have already done 20. Insya Allah until extinguished, until everything can be run again, the water bombing will stop,” Raja Juli emphasized.

(Khairunissa Auliya)