Enviro News Asia, Situbondo — A man has been arrested for allegedly deliberately setting fires inside Baluran National Park in Situbondo, East Java, as authorities intensify efforts to protect the conservation area from repeated fire incidents.
The Ministry of Forestry said its Law Enforcement Center for Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara, together with the Baluran National Park Office, uncovered the alleged deliberate burning following a series of fires in the conservation area.
The suspect, identified by the initials MF, was apprehended by Baluran National Park officers during a patrol on September 3, 2026, at around 4:15 a.m. The arrest took place approximately 200 meters from an earlier fire location in Block Kamto Pos Dua Grid 145, Wonorejo Village, Banyuputih District, Situbondo.
Officers reportedly spotted MF near the area and pursued him for about 200 meters before taking him into custody. Investigators said he subsequently admitted to deliberately setting fires.
Authorities seized several items allegedly linked to the activity, including an orange gas lighter, an unregistered motorcycle, a mobile phone, a tumbler, a beanie and a bag.
During questioning, MF reportedly told investigators that he used the gas lighter to start fires inside Baluran National Park. He also admitted to setting fires on August 31, September 1, September 2 and September 3 at several locations, including areas around Bajul Mati Reservoir and Posts 1 and 2.
According to the Ministry, the suspect said the acts were carried out on his own initiative.
The case comes as Baluran National Park faces a significant fire threat. Data from the park authority recorded 70 fire incidents covering approximately 838.79 hectares between May and July 2026.
Another fire occurred on August 29, affecting an estimated 50 hectares. The incident was handled jointly by Baluran National Park authorities, the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police.
The Ministry of Forestry said MF faces imprisonment of between two and 10 years and a fine ranging from Category III to Category VI under Article 40B paragraph (1) letter c in conjunction with Article 33 paragraph (2) letter c of Law No. 32 of 2024, which amended Law No. 5 of 1990 on the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems.
The ministry is continuing to strengthen protection of the conservation area through prevention, patrols, early detection, fire suppression and law enforcement.
The effort involves park managers, Manggala Agni firefighters, forest rangers, the TNI, police, community fire groups, volunteers and local communities.
The authorities emphasized that coordinated prevention and rapid response remain essential to preventing fires from spreading and protecting Baluran National Park’s ecosystems from deliberate burning and other illegal activities. (*)
