We are accelerating the mobilization of tools and equipment by\nensuring that firefighting gear does not sit idle in warehouses.Jakarta\n(ANTARA) - The Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) is\nstepping up efforts to contain forest and land fires across the country,\nexpanding its focus beyond the six priority provinces.<\/p>\n
The six provinces currently designated as priorities for wildfire\nmanagement are Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, South\nKalimantan, and Central Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Berton SP Panjaitan, acting head of the BNPB\u2019s Disaster Data,\nInformation, and Communication Center, explained that the proactive\nmeasures were taken to prevent the fires from causing wider damage,\nparticularly amid projections of dense haze from the Meteorology,\nClimatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen a surge in hotspot activity and smoke intensity in\nseveral areas. We urge everyone to remain vigilant and take\nprecautionary measures against airborne pollutants,\u201d he said during an\nonline press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Berton noted that firefighting operations now include high-risk areas\nsuch as Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park and Mount Butak in East Java,\nwhere water-bombing helicopters have been deployed.<\/p>\n
Joint firefighting teams are also carrying out intensive operations\nin several other regions, including North Maluku, Central Java, North\nKalimantan, Central Sulawesi, Lampung, and Southeast Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
To ensure the operations run optimally, the BNPB head has instructed\nauthorities to accelerate the delivery of logistics and improve field\ndata management.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are accelerating the mobilization of tools and equipment by\nensuring that firefighting gear does not sit idle in warehouses. We are\nalso enhancing and standardizing forest fire data reporting by\ndistinguishing satellite-detected hotspots from actual fire locations,\u201d\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Berton added that the central government continues to urge local\nauthorities to enforce Presidential Instruction No.\u00a011\/2026, which\nmandates stricter enforcement against land clearing through burning to\nensure long-term environmental sustainability.<\/p>\n
To address the potential spread of haze, he emphasized that the BNPB\nregularly urges residents in affected areas to wear masks outdoors to\nprotect their respiratory health.<\/p>\n
He noted that collective action and public awareness are vital to\ncontaining the fires, calling on people to refrain from activities that\ncould trigger fires, including carelessly discarding cigarette\nbutts.<\/p>\n
Related news: Three wildfire-affected orangutans rescued in West\nKalimantan<\/p>\n
Related news: Indonesia\u2019s Mount Ciremai fire extinguished after\nburning 46 hectares<\/p>\n
Translator: Sean Filo, Raka Adji<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-boosts-wildfire-containment-beyond-priority-provinces-1789487464", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }