East Java Wildfires Consume 9,269 Hectares Amid Severe Dry Season
Severe wildfires have scorched 9,269 hectares across 25 East Java districts. Authorities have declared a state of emergency to manage the crisis.
SURABAYA — A relentless dry season has triggered 136 wildfires across 25 districts in Indonesia's East Java province, scorching 9,269.55 hectares of land. The destruction, which has intensified throughout the 2026 season, is concentrated heavily across six key regencies, according to provincial disaster mitigation officials.
Gatot Soebroto, Chief of the East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), confirmed that the fires have left a significant trail of ecological damage. "We have recorded 136 wildfire incidents across 25 regions in East Java, with the total area burned reaching 9,269.55 hectares," Soebroto stated on Thursday, Oct. 1.
The impact is most severe in the Lumajang regency, where over 2,190 hectares have been lost. Probolinggo follows with 1,800 hectares, Blitar with 1,600 hectares, and Banyuwangi with 1,400 hectares. Additional incidents were reported in Jember, Malang, Ponorogo, Magetan, Pasuruan, Bondowoso, Situbondo, Trenggalek, and Mojokerto, where arid conditions have made vegetation highly susceptible to ignition.
Emergency Response and Mobilization
In response to the escalating threat, the East Java provincial government has declared a state of emergency under Governor’s Decree Number 100.3.3.1/327/013/2026. This mandate has empowered 24 regencies and municipalities to fast-track resource mobilization. The BPBD has deployed a large-scale fleet of water tankers, water treatment units, logistical trucks, and high-capacity pumps to critical zones, supported by integrated task forces from the military and police.
While many fire hotspots have been extinguished, authorities remain on high alert. "Personnel and disaster relief fleets remain on full standby in the field," Soebroto added, noting that the ongoing dry weather necessitates continued vigilance to prevent potential flare-ups.
Human Activity Risks
Officials have identified human activity as the primary driver of the current fire crisis. Soebroto issued a stern warning to the public, forestry stakeholders, and mountaineers, urging them to avoid activities that could ignite dry brush. Simple oversights, such as discarding cigarette butts or unattended campfires, are strictly prohibited.
The agency is urging residents to report any fire threats immediately to the BPBD East Java emergency command center via the 117 hotline or the Pusdalops PB WhatsApp service at 0812-317-80000. In urban areas like Madiun City, authorities have already recorded 85 fire incidents during the same period, 47 of which were specifically classified as land fires, underscoring the critical need for public caution as the dry spell continues.
