Rinjani Wildfire, Night and Resource Limits Halt Crews

RRI.CO.ID, Lombok Timur - Severe resource limitations and perilous nighttime conditions have forced emergency crews to suspend their battle against the wildfire. The fast-spreading blaze continues to consume the iconic savanna landscapes of Mount Rinjani National Park in North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.

A joint firefighting task force was forced to halt operations late Tuesday evening due to a critical shortage of personnel, equipment, and logistical support, combined with the extreme risks of navigating the rugged terrain in pitch darkness. The blaze, which broke out earlier in the day, continues to burn unchecked across the protected ecological zone.

According to Head of the Sub-Section of Administration at the Mount Rinjani National Park (TNGR) Center, Astekita Ardithe fire was first detected by field monitors on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at approximately 11 a.m. local time. The initial outbreak was pinpointed at the Savana Propok 2 area, located at coordinates 50 446438 E and 9067279 S.

"The fire subsequently expanded, reaching the Savana Propok 1 area, which is heavily dominated by dry savanna vegetation," he said, as quoted by Antara.

In immediate response to the threat, the Savana Propok Management Group mobilized a 15-member team that trekked into the impacted zone by 1 p.m. local time. "Intensive suppression efforts were carried out until 6 p.m. local time," he added.

Despite their swift response, the small team was overwhelmed by the scale of the blaze and a lack of proper firefighting gear. As the sun set around 7 p.m. local time, multiple active fronts were still observed tearing through the park, forcing commanders to make the tough call to pull back their crews.

"The firefighting activities have been temporarily suspended because the conditions have entered nighttime with very limited lighting, and for the safety of the personnel. The suppression operation is scheduled to resume on Wednesday morning, June 3, 2026," he explained.

The Rinjani National Park Authority is currently coordinating and consolidating forces with related local agencies to secure more effective reinforcing assets and to minimize the long-term ecological destruction to the pristine park. Officials noted that the rapidly advancing dry season has left the park’s vast grasslands highly combustible and extremely vulnerable to sparks.

In light of the crisis, authorities are pleading with locals and tourists alike to exercise extreme caution, warning that even the smallest spark could trigger a catastrophic secondary disaster.

"We appeal to the entire community, visitors of the area, nature tourism operators, farmers, cattlemen, and hikers, to increase vigilance against the potential occurrence of forest and land fires," he urged.

Park officials stressed that the public must strictly avoid hazardous activities, including clearing agricultural land by fire, burning vegetation waste, discarding cigarette butts carelessly, or leaving campfires unattended.

"The Mount Rinjani National Park Authority invites all elements of society to play an active role in forest fire prevention efforts. The public is urged to immediately report to officials if they detect any hotspots, smoke, or indications of fire within or around the forest area," he concluded. ***