Efforts to contain a massive bushfire on Lou Island are progressing well following a joint operation between deployed firefighters, the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF), and local communities, Chief of Fire Services Bill Roo announced today. However, officials warn that the fight to completely extinguish the island-wide blaze is far from over.

The crisis began in early October at Baon village before rapidly spreading to Lako and expanding island-wide over the last two weeks. The fires have destroyed homes and vital food gardens used to sustain local livelihoods, with initial reports indicating that some areas of Lou Island have experienced up to a 70% loss of forest cover. In response, the National Government deployed 20 firefighters from Port Moresby to reinforce local efforts.

Since arriving on Wednesday, the specialist firefighting team has been working around the clock alongside PNGDF soldiers and village volunteers to create firebreaks and suppress active hot spots.

“The firefighters have been working closely with locals and army personnel on the ground since being deployed,” Chief Roo said. “They are systematically putting out burning embers still smoldering high in the trees, clearing away dry vines, branches, and dense undergrowth that act as fuel, and conducting community awareness sessions on fire prevention.”

Chief Roo issued an urgent appeal to the public to immediately cease lighting open fires, pointing out that current El Niño weather patterns have created extremely hazardous, volatile conditions across the region.

“We are in the middle of a severe El Niño period, meaning there is an abundance of dry vegetation that makes any open fire unsafe,” Chief Roo warned. “Do not start fires, or the results could be catastrophic for you and your entire community.”

He also urged residents to take proactive measures around their own properties. “Start cutting down tall grasses and clearing thick vegetation near your homes. In the event that a bushfire approaches your village, a clean perimeter could save your house.”

The Chief Fire Officer acknowledged that Papua New Guinea’s fire brigades are traditionally designed for urban centers rather than combating large-scale wildfires in rural landscapes. While the PNG Fire Service will make every effort to assist affected regions nationwide, resources are being strictly prioritized for high-risk zones, specifically Lou Island and Kimbe.