Lapan Satellite Detects Eight Hot Spots
WONGSOREJO – Mount Ringgit, which is located on the border of Banyuwangi and Bondowoso, is burning, yesterday. The fire that destroyed the conservation area and protected forest occurred two days ago (30/7).
According to local residents, burned forest land far from residential areas. The fire grew bigger and looked red in the early hours of the morning around 12:00 p.m 03.00 yesterday (1/8). “The fire is growing, The mountains look red and the burned land is quite extensive," said Santoso, 45, residents of Bajulmati Village.
Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Banyuwangi has monitored and detected the location of the fire. Around Mount Ringgit there are eight hot spots that indicate forest fires.
“There are eight hot spots detected by the Lapan satellite,” said the Head of the Emergency and Logistics Division of BPBD Banyuwangi, Eka Muharram. According to Eka, The eight hot spots are divided into two. One point was detected in the Glenmore area and seven other hot spots were in the Wongsorejo District area, precisely in the Merapi mountain area..
“It is still not known exactly what caused the fire and how much land was burned,” explained Eka. The eight hot spots in these two areas are still far from residential areas.
Combined officers who have monitored the location will still be able to put out the fire. Because, if left alone will expand, considering that the dry season is still quite long.
“The fire is still in the Wongsorejo District area, Because the land is difficult to reach, currently all we are doing is assessing and being alert to guard against the possibility of the fire spreading to residential areas,” said Eka.
To minimize the occurrence of forest fires, BPBD will put up forest fire warning banners. Warning banner boards will be installed at a number of points prone to forest fires in the Banyuwangi area.
“We will put up banners and warning boards to anticipate the danger if the fire spreads” said Eka. For now, joint officers from BPBD Banyuwangi, forest police, Forest Management Unit Perhutani officer (KPH), Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA), and Forest Village Community Institutions (LMDH) on his way to the location.
“We have coordinated with related institutions. Furthermore, efforts are underway to extinguish the fire,” emphasized the Head of BKSDA, Supena. The Ringgit mountain area is dominated by flammable weeds and acacia plants.
So if left untreated it is quite dangerous because the fire will spread quickly. Estimated, due to strong winds, The movement of the fire could spread to the Bondowoso area. “We have sent some people to directly inspect the burnt land in Gunung Ringgit,” Agricultural Science Foundation toilet (Rough) KPH Banyuwangi North, Supani. (radar)
