Wildfires Strike Gunung Anjing in Bandung Regency, Raising Dry Season Concerns

Wildfires (Karhutla) are frequently occurring in Bandung Regency, West Java, with a particular concern over incidents on Mount Anjing. According to the Bandung Regency Fire and Rescue Service (Disdamkar), the fire area on Mount Anjing is located near the summit, making it inaccessible by vehicle and difficult to reach on foot. It is also situated far from residential areas, leading authorities to primarily monitor the situation. Fires have also occurred in the Cikuya hills in Lagadar, Margaasih District, with videos of the incident going viral on social media. This fire, which happened on July 29, 2026, was in a hilly area bordering West Bandung Regency (KBB). The fire was in a brushwood area near residential settlements but was successfully extinguished by the fire department. The cause is suspected to be the spread of a garbage fire, burning approximately 200 square meters of brushwood. Iman Irianto Sudjana, Head of the Bandung Regency Fire and Rescue Service, reported that a total of 88 wildfires have occurred from January 1 to July 29, 2026. This represents a significant increase, with 13 incidents in June and 72 incidents by July 29, indicating a sharp rise. Mount Anjing is identified as a high-risk area for wildfires based on data from the Bandung Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD). The agency had mapped several high-risk areas in early June in preparation for the prolonged dry season of 2026. Based on historical incident records, five districts are designated as 'red zones' for wildfires, including Mount Anjing (Arjasari District), Mount Wayang (Pangalengan District), and the Kawah Putih area (Rancabali District). Danger is also detected in Cilame, Sukamulya, and Buninagara villages within Kutawaringin District. For comparison, in 2025, a total of 309 fires occurred, with 19 of them being land fires. In the first semester of 2026 (January to June), the Bandung Regency Disdamkar recorded 199 fires, 16 of which involved land or brushwood. This pace raises concerns that the situation could worsen with the onset of the peak dry season. Source: CNN Indonesia