{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1972595,
        "msgid": "bnpb-head-use-water-bombing-only-when-forest-fires-are-small-1789053540",
        "date": "2026-09-10 20:58:56",
        "title": "BNPB Head: Use 'Water Bombing' Only When Forest Fires are Small",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Social Policy",
        "summary": "The Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has advised that water bombing via helicopters should be reserved for small-scale forest and land fires, particularly in inaccessible areas. Suharyanto emphasised that ground-based task forces remain the primary force in firefighting operations, as aerial methods lack the capacity to tackle large-scale blazes.",
        "content": "<p>Banjarbaru (ANTARA) - The Head of the National Disaster Management\nAgency (BNPB), Suharyanto, has reminded that the use of water bombing\nhelicopters in handling forest and land fires (karhutla) should only\noccur when the fire is still small, especially in locations difficult to\nreach by land.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWater bombing helicopters are only effective when the fire is still\nsmall, particularly in places that are hard to reach by ground task\nforces, and are used to assist ground units in cutting off the head of\nthe fire,\u201d said Suharyanto during a working visit accompanying Vice\nPresident Gibran in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>He emphasised that the primary function of aerial firefighting is\ndesigned to support ground units; therefore, the deployment of\nhelicopters must be adjusted to the actual fire conditions on the\nground.<\/p>\n<p>According to him, the use of water bombing helicopters is ineffective\nonce a fire has developed into a large-scale blaze, as the volume of\nwater dropped from the air is insufficient to replace the strength of\nground task forces in managing fires across vast areas.<\/p>\n<p>Consequently, the BNPB positions ground task forces as the main\nstrength in extinguishing forest and land fires, while aerial support is\nused selectively to assist in managing limited hotspots or locations\nwith difficult land access.<\/p>\n<p>He stated that this strategy is part of the effort to strengthen\nfirefighting in South Kalimantan, while weather modification operations\ncontinue to be conducted whenever there is potential for cloud growth\nthat could produce rain in the affected regions.<\/p>\n<p>He added that rain is one of the most effective factors in\nextinguishing forest and land fires, so weather modification operations\nare continuously utilised as an additional effort when atmospheric\nconditions are favourable, while still relying on the strength of ground\ntask forces.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll firefighting support must be used according to the character of\nthe fire so that aerial and ground resources can work effectively,\nespecially to prevent small fires from developing into more widespread\nconflagrations,\u201d Suharylarnto said.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bnpb-head-use-water-bombing-only-when-forest-fires-are-small-1789053540",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}