A forest and land fire hit the slopes of Mount Gombak, also known as Mount Nglarangan, in Karanggayam Hamlet, Sukosari Village, Kauman District, Ponorogo Regency. The incident, which lasted from Monday (13/7/2026) afternoon to Tuesday (14/7/2026) early morning, reportedly scorched about 15 hectares of forest vegetation.
The Chief Executive of the Ponorogo Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Masun, explained that the fire was first detected on Monday afternoon at around 15:00 WIB. The joint team took approximately eight hours to finally subdue the flames burning the hilly area.
According to Masun, the fire first appeared at the lower slopes and quickly spread upwards. Wind gusts caused the fire to spread to the north side before expanding to the west, east, and parts of the south of the mountain. Due to the very steep terrain, officers were forced to extinguish the fire manually using fire flappers and create firebreaks to halt the spread of the flames.
The firefighting effort involved synergy from various groups, including BPBD personnel, the military (TNI), the police (Polri), Perhutani (state forestry company), volunteers, village governments, and local residents. Although the flames came as close as 100 meters to residential areas, officers ensured the fire was successfully contained so it did not spread and damage homes.
In addition to managing the fire on Mount Gombak, BPBD Ponorogo is now also mapping and monitoring potential forest and land fires in several other locations, including Sampung, Sambit, and Balong districts. Facing the dry season, authorities urge the public to increase vigilance and avoid activities that could trigger fires in forests or open fields.
