Authorities in Way Kambas National Park extinguished fire which affected an estimated of 673 hectares (Kementerian Kehutanan RI)
On August 23, a fire that swept through part of Way Kambas National Park in East Lampung was fully extinguished with authorities reporting no direct impact on the park’s Sumatran elephant population.
The blaze, which broke out on August 21 in the Kuala Penet Resort area, affected an estimated 673 hectares. The figure remains provisional and will be reviewed once field teams complete their assessment.
Containing the fire required a joint response involving roughly 250 personnel. Park rangers worked alongside the police, military, East Lampung authorities, conservation partners and local community groups to prevent the flames from spreading further.
Difficult terrain made the operation particularly demanding. Firefighters had to work across peatland, where access was limited and nearby water sources were scarce. In several sections, teams could only reach the affected areas on foot.
As of August 22, the fire had been brought under control. Crews subsequently shifted their focus to cooling the area and checking for remaining hotspots, a precaution considered essential in peatland areas where fires can re-emerge after appearing to be extinguished.
Meanwhile, monitoring by the Way Kambas National Park authority found that wild elephant groups were concentrated in the northern part of the park, well beyond the fire zone. Elephants at the park’s Elephant Conservation Centre were likewise located in unaffected areas.
Authorities said patrols and surveillance would be strengthened following the incident, alongside closer cooperation with security forces, local communities and conservation organisations. The measures will also target other threats to the park, including illegal logging, encroachment and poaching.
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