Wildfire Closes Hiking Routes on Gunung Arjuno-Welirang
The closure took effect Oct. 17 with no end date, while hikers already on the mountain were evacuated as crews kept battling the blaze.
A forest and land fire in the Gunung Arjuno-Welirang area of East Java has forced hiking routes to close temporarily starting Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. The closure was imposed in the Raden Soerjo Grand Forest Park area after flames broke out Friday night, and joint teams were still working to stop the fire from spreading. Agustiningtyas Marini, head of the UPT Tahura Raden Soerjo, said hikers who had already gone up the day before were evacuated. According to a preliminary report cited by the East Java Forestry Department, the fire was detected in Resort Konservasi Wilayah 03 Pasuruan, covering Jatiarjo and Dayurejo villages in Prigen district, Pasuruan regency. Response efforts involved forest rangers, Manggala Agni, volunteers and the East Java BPBD, using firebreaks and manual suppression in areas that could be reached. The affected area has not yet been determined.