Mount Lawu blaze engulfs 100 hectares, forces multi-agency retreat
A forest fire on Mount Lawu’s slopes in Central Java has burned about 100 hectares, prompting a multi-agency response that was forced to pull back personnel due to hazardous conditions.
On Thursday morning, a fire ignited in the pine forest areas of compartments 28, 32 and 62c on Mount Lawu’s northern slope in Gondosuli Village, Karanganyar Regency, Central Java, and has since consumed an estimated 100 hectares. The Regional Disaster Management Agency of Karanganyar, led by Sugiharjo, coordinated a response with the state forestry company Perhutani, the Indonesian Military, the National Police, volunteer groups and residents, mobilising roughly 350 personnel from 42 organisations into six task forces.
Firefighters attempted manual suppression using the traditional “gebyokan” technique, but strong winds, dry vegetation and steep terrain limited effectiveness, prompting a full withdrawal of ground teams around mid-afternoon on Friday. The team is now focusing on mapping the burn area and establishing firebreaks, especially along the Tembak and Cemoro Kandang hiking trails, to prevent further spread toward popular routes.
A public kitchen remains open to support responders, and volunteers are urged to use proper protective gear. Operations are set to resume on Saturday with expanded barriers to contain the blaze.
Why it matters
The fire threatens a large forest area and nearby tourist trails, requiring coordinated action to protect the environment and local communities.
In this story
