TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Fire razes forest on Mount Ijen, East Java, since Thursday. Pujiadi, Section Head of Natural Resources Conservation Station (BKSDA) Regional V, said on Friday that the fire has consumed up to 150-hectare area of the forest. Two fire spots were found in Pos Bunder block.
According to Pujiadi, the high speed wind and dry bushes around in the location fueled up the fire and make it difficult to extinguish. Besides, the fire spots are difficult to access. BKSDA has deployed 30 volunteers and two units of fire brigades since Thursday.
Forest on Mt. Ijen is 2,500-hectare large and first fire was spotted on August in the savanna area. This fire was put down but new fire spots were then appeared in Pos Blunder block.
Head of Banyuwangi Disaster Mitigation Agency, Kusiyadi claimed to have prepared two units of fire brigades in Paltuding outpost to anticipate fire broadening during the International sporting event Banyuwangi Tour de Ijen.
IKA NINGTYAS
