Mount Bromo fires: 3 helicopters deployed for up to 30 daily drops

hartono · Aug 9, 2026

Mount Bromo fires: 3 helicopters deployed for up to 30 daily drops

Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni addresses journalists following an inspection of firefighting operations in the Mount Bromo area, Probolinggo Regency, East Java, on Sunday (August 9, 2026). (ANTARA/Ananto Pradana)

Malang, E. Java (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has intensified aerial firefighting efforts to combat ongoing forest fires on the slopes of Mount Bromo in East Java, focusing on areas that are inaccessible to ground crews.

Speaking from Mount Bromo on Sunday, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said three water-bombing helicopters had been deployed to suppress the blazes, with crews targeting up to 30 aerial drops per day.

“Three helicopters have been operating for the past two days. Please pray for good weather so the fires can be extinguished, especially on slopes inaccessible to ground troops,” the minister said.

As of Sunday, helicopter crews had completed 17 water-bombing runs. However, Antoni stressed that aerial firefighting efforts remain highly dependent on local weather conditions, as strong winds at high altitudes can hamper helicopter maneuvers and reduce the accuracy of water drops.

Alongside the aerial operations, a joint ground task force continues to carry out manual firefighting efforts. Field officers have established a six-kilometer firebreak to prevent the flames from spreading further across the national park.

“Yesterday’s incident was caused by the steep slopes and very strong winds, which ultimately caused the fire to spread rapidly,” Antoni explained, referring to the rapid expansion of the fire perimeter over the weekend.

To improve operational efficiency, authorities have established a unified incident command structure to streamline coordination, resource management and tactical responses between various ground and aerial units.

“All operational needs and challenges can now be coordinated so that the firefighting process will be more effective,” Antoni said.