TEMPO.CO, Lumajang - Fire razes 15-hectare forest in the foot of Mt Semeru, Oro-oro Ombo village, East Java, Thursday night. The fire spot was located 5 kilometers away from residential area and 8 kilometers from the peak.
"It happened Thursday night," said Lumajang Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) Ribowo yesterday.
The fire was spotted at 9 a.m., Ribowo added, denying rumors saying that hot material spilled out of Mt Semeru had caused the fire.
"The fire is suspected to be triggered by humans. [It] can be from cigarette butts or others," Ribowo explained.
The fire was put down around dusk by joint firefighters from BPDB Lumajang, Perhutani, Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park and local residents. Ribowo said the volunteers would continue to monitor the area for possible re-appearance of the fire due to wind blowing.
BPDB of Lumajang stated that the burnt forest is the one located on Petak 2 where pine and teak had grown.
DAVID PRIYASIDHARTA
