As a result of an escalating wildfire that has nearly tripled in size since Monday, Indonesian authorities have closed off access to the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java province. The park's closure, announced on Saturday, is intended to ensure the safety of visitors, staff, and local residents, as the fire has consumed approximately 176 hectares (435 acres) of Mount Bromo. Hundreds of firefighters, disaster management personnel, police, soldiers, park rangers, and volunteers have been mobilized to contain the blaze. Steep terrain, whipping winds, and forested areas have complicated ground operations, necessitating the use of water-bombing helicopters and water-spraying drones. The Indonesian government anticipates an unusually intense dry season this year due, in part, to the El Nino weather pattern, which is associated with warmer sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. This year's fires have already burned roughly 1,070 square kilometers (415 square miles) of Indonesian land, exceeding the area affected by fires in 2023 by more than double. The park's closure is a critical measure to prevent a repetition of a past incident when a blaze consumed over 500 hectares (1,235 acres) of Mount Bromo following a couple lighting a flare during a wedding photo shoot.