Jakarta – The government is strengthening its response to forest and land fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan through a coordinated, inter-agency effort. This strategy integrates personnel, ground and aerial operations, hotspot monitoring, and weather modification operations (OMC) to accelerate fire control in high-risk areas.
Six provinces have been prioritized for intervention: Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan. These regions require special attention due to their peatlands, which are highly susceptible to catching fire during the dry season.
The Ministry of Forestry has deployed a joint force of 12,880 personnel, comprising members of Manggala Agni (forest fire brigades), the military (TNI), the police (Polri), the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Regional Disaster Management Agencies (BPBD), local governments, Fire-Aware Communities (MPA), business entities, and volunteers. These forces are deployed dynamically based on the evolving situation on the ground.
Ristianto Pribadi, Head of the Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation Bureau at the Ministry of Forestry, stated that the personnel deployment aims to ensure a rapid and targeted response to hotspots.
“As part of the rapid response on the ground, the government has mobilized a full force of 12,880 joint personnel from Manggala Agni (Ministry of Forestry), TNI, Polri, BNPB, BPBD, local governments, Fire-Aware Communities (MPA), business entities, and volunteers,” said Ristianto.
This force is further supported by integrated patrols, initial and follow-up firefighting efforts, the construction of firebreaks, cooling operations, and post-extinguishment monitoring. This approach is designed to prevent the re-emergence of hotspots and forestall the spread of fires.
Aerial support plays a crucial role in the operation. Weather modification operations (OMC) are conducted based on cloud availability as analyzed by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), while patrol and water-bombing aircraft are utilized to reach areas inaccessible by land.
Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin emphasized that controlling forest and land fires requires the coordination of all stakeholders to ensure the optimal use of state resources. “Synergy among the central government, local governments, the TNI (military), the National Police, and all relevant stakeholders must be continuously strengthened to control fire hotspots, prevent the spread of impacts, and safeguard public safety. All available resources must be optimized to protect the people, preserve the environment, and ensure regional security,” asserted Sjafrie.
Beyond focusing on extinguishing fires, the government continues to monitor air quality, flight visibility, and the impact of smoke on public activities. Cross-sector coordination also ensures that response measures can be adjusted according to evolving conditions in each region.
This unified command approach demonstrates the government’s seriousness in addressing forest and land fires swiftly, systematically, and in an integrated manner. The combination of manpower, technology, aerial support, weather modification, and community participation is expected to suppress fires at an early stage while protecting the environment and the safety of residents.