World · East Asia & Pacific · 3 hrs ago
Wildfires Spread Across Several Mountains on Java
Wildfires have hit several mountains on Java in Indonesia this week, with fires still burning in some areas on Friday, 23 October.
The affected areas include Mount Ciremai in West Java, Mount Lawu and Mount Sumbing in Central Java, and Arjuno-Welirang in East Java.
The fires have spread across forest and other land, including high-elevation grasslands and wooded areas.
Reported burned areas reached 779.4 hectares on Mount Sumbing, 736.8 hectares at Arjuno-Welirang and 490 hectares on Mount Lawu.
Fire crews, local authorities, police, military personnel and volunteers are working to contain the blazes, and officials in Kuningan have prepared water-bombing operations for Ciremai.
Steep terrain and strong, shifting winds are making firefighting harder and can help flames spread quickly.
On Lawu, officials said there were indications that charcoal-making may have started the fire, but the cause was not confirmed; crews are continuing to monitor and fight the fires.
Wildfires affected several mountains across Java during the week of October 19, 2026.
The fires were reported on Mount Ciremai, Mount Lawu, Mount Sumbing and Mount Arjuno-Welirang.
As of October 23, firefighting was still underway at several sites.
Reported burned areas included 779.4 hectares on Mount Sumbing, 736.8 hectares on Mount Arjuno-Welirang and 490 hectares on Mount Lawu.
Officials said steep terrain, strong winds and changing wind conditions complicated firefighting.
- Who
- Firefighting teams, including officials, emergency services and volunteers, were responding to the fires.
- What
- Wildfires spread across several mountains on Java.
- When
- The fires were reported during the week of October 19, 2026; some were still being fought on October 23.
- Where
- Mount Ciremai, Mount Lawu, Mount Sumbing and Mount Arjuno-Welirang on Java, Indonesia.
- Why
- The cause is not stated for most fires. A Central Java disaster official said there were indications of charcoal-making on Mount Lawu.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Wildfires were reported on the slopes of Mount Lawu and in the Mount Arjuno-Welirang area.
An official said the Arjuno-Welirang fire began in Pasuruan and had spread into parts of Malang Regency and Batu City.
The Ciremai fire was first detected at about 8:44 p.m.; the Lawu fire was reported to have spread to Ngargoyoso and Hargo Dalem.
A Central Java disaster official said the Lawu fire had affected 490 hectares and suggested charcoal-making may have been involved.
Firefighting continued on Ciremai and Sumbing; reported burned areas on Sumbing and Arjuno-Welirang were 779.4 and 736.8 hectares, respectively.
- Mount Ciremai
- Fire first detected October 21 at about 8:44 p.m.
- Mount Lawu
- 490 hectares affected
- Mount Sumbing
- 779.4 hectares affected
- Mount Arjuno-Welirang
- 736.8 hectares burned as of October 21
- Mount Ciremai response
- Water-bombing operation was being prepared by Kuningan Regency’s disaster agency
What people are saying
The fire has not been contained and is still large, moving west toward the upper area, where there is a protected forest zone.
There are indications of charcoal-making on Mount Lawu.
Besides the steep terrain, changes in wind direction and speed also affect firefighting strategies and the creation of firebreaks to stop the fire from spreading.
Strong winds make the fire spread quickly, so the firefighting efforts have not been able to keep up with the spread of the fire.