Enviro News Asia, Cianjur – Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry, through the Mount Gede Pangrango National Park Office (BBTNGGP), has swiftly responded to a vegetation fire at Alun-Alun Barat Surya Kencana in the Mount Gede Pangrango National Park (TNGGP) on Thursday (August 6, 2026). Through a rapid response and coordinated field operation, the fire was extinguished before spreading further into the forested area.
The initial report was received by officers at the Gunung Putri Resort at 3:15 p.m. local time from local community members managing the basecamp. In response, Ministry of Forestry personnel, members of the Forest Ranger Partner Community (MMP), and volunteers were immediately deployed to the location to conduct firefighting operations.
Head of the Mount Gede Pangrango National Park Office Sadtata Noor Adirahmanta said field assessments indicated that approximately one hectare of land was affected. The fire primarily burned dry grass and a small amount of woody vegetation within a radius of approximately five meters from the edelweiss savanna toward the forest.
“Thanks to the swift response of officers, MMP members, and volunteers in the field, the fire was completely extinguished. However, to ensure that conditions remain safe and to anticipate any potential re-ignition, our teams will continue monitoring and conducting ground checks in shifts over the next three days,” Sadtata said.
As a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of hikers and local communities while facilitating post-fire recovery efforts, the Ministry of Forestry has temporarily closed all hiking trails in the Mount Gede Pangrango National Park.
The closure is stipulated in Circular Letter No. SE.18 of 2026, signed by the Head of the Mount Gede Pangrango National Park Office. The closure applies to all entry points from August 7 to August 11, 2026.
“This closure has been implemented for the safety of everyone. For prospective hikers who have already made reservations for August 7 to 11, 2026, the Mount Gede Pangrango National Park Office will facilitate refunds. A refund application link will be sent directly through the official BBTNGGP WhatsApp account to the registered group leader’s phone number,” Sadtata explained.
Following the incident, Sadtata expressed his appreciation to all parties involved in the firefighting operation.
The Ministry of Forestry also urged the public, tourists, and outdoor enthusiasts to comply with applicable regulations and remain vigilant to prevent forest and land fires and protect the ecological integrity of the Mount Gede Pangrango landscape.
The ministry emphasized that early response, field monitoring, and public awareness are essential to preventing vegetation fires from developing into larger forest and land fire incidents, particularly during periods of dry weather. (*)
