Mount Bromo in Flames: East Java Wildfires Threaten Livelihoods

An icon of Indonesia, up in smoke. This is the Mount Bromo National Park in East Java. The massive fire started in early August. Hundreds of hectares off the national park have been burned. It's not easy with slopes as steep as these. Our only option is to carry out waterbombing operations, as well as efforts on the ground to create firebreaks. The famed tourist destination, which includes an active volcano, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. But the park has been closed indefinitely. Visitors with pre-booked tickets can reschedule or request a refund. Ahmad runs a food store just outside one of the entrances to the park, selling meatballs called bakso to tourists. It's not just me feeling the impact. All my friends who run small businesses in the Bromo area are feeling the downturn. For many locals, it's an anxious wait for the fires to stop and the park to reopen. I have no income for the moment. All my livelihood comes from guiding tourists on horseback. While the area is closed, some people are selling grass and others are farming. Indonesia's weather agency says strong winds and dry weather are accelerating the spread of the fires, with the El Nino weather pattern creating drier conditions than normal. Wildfires have also swept across other parts of Indonesia, including on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Jessica Washington, Al Jazeera.