SURABAYA: Four firefighters and volunteers died on Thursday while battling wildfires in Mount Bromo National Park in East Java, bringing the reported death toll from wildfire-fighting operations across the country this year to at least eight people.
According to authorities, the incident began at about 9am local time, when a team of 12 firefighters and volunteers responded to reports of fires on Kembang Hill in Sukapura district.
The team split into two groups to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading.
At about 1pm, a sudden change in wind direction trapped six personnel amid flames and thick smoke, while the other six escaped because they were positioned on the opposite side of the fire.
East Java Police spokesperson Senior Commissioner Jules Abraham Abast said search and rescue efforts were launched after the flames subsided.
“Three victims were found dead at the scene, while three others suffered burns and were immediately taken to Tongas Regional General Hospital in Probolinggo regency,” Abast said on Friday.
The three victims who died at the scene were identified as Sukaris, 55, an official at the national park; Wisnu Yuda Pratama, 25, a volunteer who also worked as a security guard at a nearby hotel; and Sefriel Ardiansyah, 19, a volunteer and competitive rock climber from Probolinggo.
Abast said Hendra Rony Wagiyanata, a junior forest firefighter at the national park, was among those initially reported to have survived but later died while receiving treatment at the hospital.
East Java Police will investigate the cause of the fire and the deaths, Abast said, adding that investigators had yet to examine the scene because firefighting operations were still underway.
“We need to investigate further to determine the exact cause of the deaths of the four people, including whether negligence or a criminal act was involved,” Abast said.
Meanwhile, Head of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park Authority Rudijanta Tjahja Nugraha expressed his condolences over the deaths, paying tribute to the victims’ courage and commitment to protecting the conservation area.
“The dedication and service of the deceased in safeguarding the national park will remain an enduring part of our collective efforts to protect nature and the environment,” Rudijanta said.
Indonesia is grappling with a severe forest and land fire season this year, with Sumatra and Kalimantan among the worst-affected regions.
Nearly 900,000 hectares had burned nationwide by late August, an area roughly four times the size of Tokyo, according to Nusantara Atlas, an independent forest monitoring platform.
Mount Bromo National Park has also been hit by major fires in recent months, with more than 1,121 hectares burned in August alone, according to reports.
The deaths in East Java were not the first among personnel battling wildfires this year.
In May, Muharmizan, 44, a member of the Manggala Agni forest firefighting unit in Riau, died after reportedly suffering exhaustion while fighting fires in Bengkalis regency.
In Central Kalimantan, three firefighters and volunteers also died in August and September after falling ill during firefighting operations.
On Sept 10, Aries Sutio Luthfil Hadi, 33, a firefighter in West Kotawaringin regency, died after suffering shortness of breath attributed to smoke inhalation while fighting a wildfire. He received hospital treatment for three days before passing away, according to local reports.
Ahmadin, 56, a volunteer firefighter in the same regency, died on Aug 30 after a week of medical treatment for shortness of breath that developed while he was battling a wildfire.
On Aug 27, Akhmad Rijani, 54, a volunteer firefighter from Palangka Raya, the provincial capital of Central Kalimantan, died after six days of hospital treatment. He had complained of chest pain while fighting a wildfire.
Following the fatal incident at Mount Bromo, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni paid tribute to firefighters, volunteers and other personnel involved in efforts to contain forest and land fires, praising their courage and dedication.
He also expressed condolences to the families of those killed and sympathy for victims still receiving medical treatment.
“The deaths underscore the risks faced by firefighting crews and the importance of safety measures, including monitoring fire behaviour and wind direction, maintaining clear evacuation routes, ensuring reliable communications and continually assessing conditions on the ground,” he said, as quoted by Kompas.id. - Jakarta Post/ANN
