Flames Visible from Pasuruan to Malang Toll Road
Forest and land fires hit the peak and slopes of Mount Arjuno within the Raden Soerjo Grand Forest Park (Tahura) area on Friday night (16/10/2026). The flames and thick plumes of smoke were clearly visible as far as Pasuruan City.
The fire began to appear larger on Friday afternoon and became increasingly visible at night from the areas of Pasuruan City, Pandaan, Tretes (Prigen), the toll road section toward Malang (KM 54-60), and the surrounding areas. In several recordings circulating on social media, red flames were seen stretching across the mountain slope.
The flames were observed originating from the Perengkilu area and spreading to several points, including the Arjuno area, Lembah Kijang, Pondok Lembu, as well as several points in Prigen District such as Ledug Village, Dayurejo Village, and Jatiarjo Village.
Fire Spreads to Mount Ringgit and Bukit Nogo
The fire hotspot initially emerged on Thursday (15/10/2026) afternoon and continues to burn to this day. The blaze in the Puncak Ringgit area on the slopes of Mount Arjuno, Prigen District, Pasuruan Regency, was reported to have continued spreading into the night.
The fire also spread to several mountain hills around Mount Kukusan, Mount Arjuno, Mount Ringgit, and Bukit Nogo. Two new fire hotspots were reported appearing simultaneously at Puncak Ringgit, forming a blazing red line along slopes covered in dry vegetation.
The fire spread due to strong winds and dried-out vegetation. Steep slope contours and limited visibility at night posed particular challenges in the response efforts at the location.
BPBD East Java and Joint Team Deployed
Head of the East Java BPBD, Gatot Subroto, confirmed the fire and ensured that ground teams were moving toward the location. "It is true there is a forest fire at the peak of Arjuno and ground teams from Jatim, Mojokerto and Pasuruan as well as the Tahura team are moving to the location," he said.
The joint ground firefighting team deployed consists of the East Java Provincial BPBD, the BPBD of the relevant regencies/cities, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) (Kodim 0819 Pasuruan), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), UPT Tahura Raden Soerjo personnel, along with volunteer elements. According to initial reports, 11 personnel were deployed to extinguish the fire, consisting of four Tahura officers and seven volunteers.
Response measures are focused on limiting the spread of fire to prevent it from reaching the broader conservation forest area, including the creation of firebreaks to stop the flames from spreading further.
All Hiking Trails Completely Closed
As a precautionary and safety measure, all hiking trails on Mount Arjuno and Welirang have been temporarily closed again in their entirety. The hiking trail via Bukit Cendono has also been closed for safety reasons.
Hiking trails around the location are under strict supervision to ensure the safety of hikers, personnel, and the public. Fires in mountainous areas can spread rapidly when fueled by strong winds and dry natural vegetation.
As of the time this article was compiled, no verified information was available regarding the extent of the burned area or the exact cause of the fire. Searches for "gunung arjuno" surged by more than 800 percent on Google Trends Indonesia on Friday night, signaling that the event has become a matter of national public attention.
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