The decline is a positive development but is not a reason to lower\nvigilance because the risk of forest and land fires remains, Raja\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Hotspots have fallen in several areas that previously recorded high\nnumbers after joint firefighting efforts, including Central Kalimantan,\nWest Kalimantan, Riau, Jambi, and South Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Central Kalimantan recorded as many as 1,116 hotspots over two days\nbefore the number fell to about 300 after joint efforts to tackle the\nfires, while West Kalimantan saw hotspots decline from about 800 to\n400.<\/p>\n
Riau reported no hotspots, while Jambi had one hotspot. In South\nSumatra, the number fell from 39 to 37, according to the government.<\/p>\n
But a decline in hotspots does not mean all fires have ended,\nparticularly in peatland areas, where fires can leave smoldering embers\nbeneath the surface even after visible flames have disappeared.<\/p>\n
\u201cHotspots do not mean there is no smoke because of the nature of\npeatlands. Even when there is no fire, there can still be smoke,\u201d Raja\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said intensive and repeated cooling and wetting operations were\nneeded to ensure embers stored in peat do not reignite.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf intensive cooling or wetting is not carried out repeatedly, there\nis a risk of the fire spots returning,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Head of the National Disaster Management Agency Suharyanto\nsaid satellite-detected hotspots needed to be verified before being\nclassified as fires.<\/p>\n
Authorities use various methods for verification, including\nhelicopters and drones, he said.<\/p>\n
In South Sumatra, field inspections found that 11 of the 37\nhigh-intensity hotspots detected in the province were confirmed to be\nactual fire spots.<\/p>\n
The government aims to bring all of the verified fire spots under\ncontrol as soon as possible by deploying firefighting personnel and\nequipment to the affected areas.<\/p>\n
The government is also preparing weather modification operations to\ntake advantage of potential rainfall in early September, alongside\nfirefighting efforts.<\/p>\n
According to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency\n(BMKG), there is potential for rain-producing weather systems from\nSept.\u00a01 to Sept.\u00a06, 2026.<\/p>\n
The expected rainfall could help extinguish active fires while\nwetting dry land and reducing the likelihood of embers re-emerging,\nauthorities said.<\/p>\n
Suharyanto said the government would continue intensive firefighting\noperations throughout September.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will continue to battle to put out the fires this September,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Related news: Indonesia closes nine national parks to hikes amid\nwildfire risks<\/p>\n
Related news: Govt probes alleged criminal acts in Mount Bromo\nnational park fires<\/p>\n
Related news: Indonesia bolsters integrated strategy in fight against\nwildfires<\/p>\n
Translator: Ahmad Rafli Baiduri, Martha Herlinawati Simanjunta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-stays-alert-as-forest-fire-hotspots-decline-1788180633", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }