Mount Raung hiking trails are temporarily closed following forest and land fires.

indonesiatravelsport.com - The Mount Raung hiking trail in Banyuwangi Regency, East Java, has been temporarily closed after forest and land fires broke out in the mountain's summit zone. This closure was enacted as a precautionary step to protect hiker safety, while also preventing risks caused by conditions surrounding the trail route.

Enny Handhayany, Administrator of Perum Perhutani West Banyuwangi Forest Management Unit (KPH), stated the fire erupted at the summit of Mount Raung on Tuesday 8 September. The blaze was not large, and burned approximately half a hectare of surrounding area.

Field officers together with site management successfully responded to the incident and fully extinguished the fire. While the situation has been brought under control, conditions at the summit zone remain under close watch, as the fire site is located very close to the main hiking trail.

"This trail closure was issued by management via official circular, in line with our cooperation agreement which grants management authority to close hiking routes during force majeure circumstances," Enny stated while in Banyuwangi, East Java.

All hiking activities heading to Mount Raung are temporarily suspended. This closure was not implemented solely based on the scale of the fire, but forms part of preventive efforts to ensure hikers do not encounter hazardous conditions within the mountain area.

Mount Raung stands at 3,332 metres above sea level, located in the southern region of Banyuwangi. It is one of the most popular hiking destinations in East Java, with trail terrain and summit conditions that require proper physical preparation and constant vigilance.

According to Enny, the location of this latest fire was very close to the established hiking path. For this reason, even after the blaze was fully extinguished, management opted to keep the trail closed to anticipate any further potential complications.

"Alongside the Mount Raung hiking trail, we have also temporarily closed the hiking route on Mount Ranti, which lies within the Ijen Crater Nature Tourism Park area," she added.

This is not the first fire incident on Mount Raung. Enny confirmed a similar fire had broken out approximately three weeks prior, which was also successfully extinguished by Perhutani officers and site management teams.

Following these repeated incidents, the trail closure measure forms part of management efforts to reduce potential risks while the entire mountain zone remains under active monitoring.

For all visitors and hikers, public safety will remain the primary consideration before Mount Raung is re-opened for public access.