Mount Ciremai Forest Fire, Not All

Climbers Successfully Down

Kompas.com - 08/08/2019, 22:37 WIB

Kepulan asap tampak membakar sebagian kawasan Puncak Gunung Ciremai di Kabupaten Kuningan Jawa Barat, Kamis
(8/8/2019).(KOMPAS.com/MUHAMAD SYAHRI ROMDHON)

BANDUNG, KOMPAS.com - Mount Ciremai forest fire is still ongoing. Until Thursday
(8/8/2019) at 14.38 West Indonesia Time, the Kuningan Regency Regional Disaster
Management Agency (BPBD) informed that not all climbers had managed to get down to safe
areas. "Five climbers in the Linggajati Path are in the process of descending to the Horse
Grave," said Plh. Head of BNPB Data, Information and Public Relations Center Agus Wibowo
in his written statement, Thursday (8/8/2019). It is said, climbing Mount Ciremai has several
paths, such as the Apuy Line, Palutungan, Linggajati and Linggasana.

The local Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has confirmed that there are no
climbers on the other three routes.

The total number of climbers successfully evacuated was 69.

"The local national park authority issued an announcement about the closure of the hiking
trail," he explained.
The fire fighting operation involved 219 personnel from BPBD of Majalengka Regency,
Kuningan District BPBD, TNI, Polri, personnel of Gunung Ciremai National Park, MPGC
Apuy, MPGC Sangiang, volunteers and community members.

"This morning, at 07.00 WIB, the fire was still burning and spreading to the north. The
combined element of climbing was to make efforts to extinguish and dispatch logistics," he
explained.

The blackout route itself is carried out in 4 lines namely the Apuy Line (main post), Sadarehe
Line, Cikaracak Line and Bantaragung Line.

The local BPBD reported that 33 Apuy lane climbers had been evacuated at 01:25 WIB, as well
as 31 climbers on the Palutungan lane.

The fire broke out in the Walet Cave block, the summit of Mount Ciremai, Argamukti Village,
Argapura District, Majalengka Regency, West Java.

Smoke is monitored on Wednesday (07/08/2019) at 15:10 WIB from the Argalingga area,
Majalengka Regency. The estimated area of land affected is around 308 hectares. The cause of
the fire is still under investigation by related parties.

https://regional.kompas.com/read/2019/08/08/22371631/kebakaran-hutan-gunung-ciremai-
belum-semua-pendaki-berhasil-turun

QUESTIONS
1. Where did the forest fire occur?
Answer :
The fire broke out in the Walet Cave block, the summit of Mount Ciremai,
Argamukti Village, Argapura District, Majalengka Regency, West Java.
2. What caused the 5 climbers to not yet be evacuated?
Answer :
Because the 5 climbers did not cross the 3 hiking routes in Mount Ciremai.
3. When is the evacuation process for the 5 climbers?
Answer :
In a statement given by the Head of the BNPB Data, Information and
Public Relations Center, Agus Wibowo, July 8, 2019.
4. Who is involved in fighting these fires?
Answer :
The fire fighting operation involved 219 personnel from BPBD of
Majalengka Regency, Kuningan District BPBD, TNI, Polri, personnel of
Gunung Ciremai National Park, MPGC Apuy, MPGC Sangiang,
volunteers and community members.
5. Why is the hiking trail closed?
Answer :
Because fire fighting is being carried out on every hiking trail.
6. How did the fire happen?
Answer :
Initially smoke was monitored from July 7, 2019 and the fire spread to 308
hectares. The cause is still under investigation by related parties.

Comments from several parties :

1. According to Mr. Endun as head of the climbing post manager that
"Fire still cannot be estimated how many hectares.
2. As the fire spreads more, BPBD mobilizes a helicopter to put out the
fire.