2 water-bombing helicopters deployed to fight Semeru fire

Two helicopters belonging to BPBD Jawa Timur were deployed for water bombing to help extinguish a forest and land fire on the slopes of Gunung Semeru in Lumajang on Friday. Aerial efforts were used because several fire points in the Taman Nasional Bromo Tengger Semeru area are difficult to reach from the ground due to steep slopes and cliffs. The fire was reported at Blok Ranu Kembang, Ledok Bedor, and Bukit Ayak-ayak, with smoke also observed in Pangonan Cilik. BPBD Lumajang said the blaze had spread toward Ranu Kumbolo. Joint officers from Polres Lumajang, BPBD, TNBTS, Koramil, volunteers, and residents continued containment and manual firefighting. Earlier, 172 hikers were evacuated safely from Ranu Kumbolo and the climbing route was fully closed. The burned area was estimated at about 160 hectares.