Jakarta, IO – The wildfire that engulfed Mount Guntur in Garut regency, West Java, has finally been put out. In total, around 200 hectares of forest was scorched after the fire raged for four days, said Garut Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Aah Anwar Saefulloh, as per Detikcom, Fri (23/8).
“When the fire was blazing, joint personnel could only monitor and prevent the fire from spreading to residential areas by building firebreaks. This is because the location is out of reach,” he said.
Nevertheless, he said the potential for the fire to start again is still very high due to the hot and dry weather. “The combustible objects are mostly weeds. As for the cause, we have yet to determine whether it was due to natural factor, or intentional,” he said.
The climbing route has yet to be reopened because it is feared that another fire may start. He also appealed to the locals to not to carry out activities that can cause fires such as lighting fires and discarding cigarette butts recklessly.
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“We have educated the local community to not carry out activities that can spark fires,” said Aah.
According to the West Java Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA), the fire affected 200 plots of land in Cigenjreng, Cilopang and Leuweung Saeutik in Tarogong Kaler district. (bp)