The forest and land fire (karhutla) emergency response status in\nPalangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, has been extended due to worsening\nconditions exacerbated by a water crisis.<\/p>\n
The Palangka Raya city government has extended the emergency status\nthat was originally due to end on 10 August 2026. However, the status\nnow covers not only forest and land fires but has been expanded to a\nForest Fire and Drought Emergency Response.<\/p>\n
The extended emergency status is in effect from 11 August to 8\nSeptember 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been extended. Yesterday we held a meeting with the full\njoint team, including the TNI and Polri, and it was decided to extend\nit. However, there is a change: previously it was a forest and land fire\nemergency response, now it is a forest fire and drought emergency\nresponse,\u201d said Palangka Raya Mayor Fairid Naparin on Tuesday (11\/8), as\nquoted by detikKalimantan.<\/p>\n
He explained that drought has now become a serious problem because\nwater shortages are beginning to be felt in the field.<\/p>\n
He said the situation could potentially make it increasingly\ndifficult for personnel to extinguish fires and wet peatland.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause water is becoming increasingly scarce. We have now entered\nthe drought stage. The challenge is not only extinguishing fires, but\nalso how to obtain water sources more easily to support operations in\nthe field,\u201d said Fairid.<\/p>\n
Despite facing limited water sources, Fairid assured that\nextinguishing and wetting operations are continuing. The city government\nis also continuing to coordinate with the central government to obtain\nsupport in dealing with the situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are continuing to extinguish fires and wet peatland. At the same\ntime, we are looking for solutions regarding water sources. Assistance\nfrom BNPB and the central government is still ongoing,\u201d he\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Forest fire handling in Palangka Raya to date has involved many\nparties, including the TNI, Polri, volunteers, BNPB and other relevant\nagencies.<\/p>\n
Personnel and equipment support from the central government is also\nstill being provided to help the region deal with the fires.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, regarding the possibility of involving civil servants\n(ASN) in extinguishing operations as has been done in several other\nregions, Fairid said the policy has not yet been implemented in Palangka\nRaya.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor now, we have not yet involved ASN. Because we are still\nreceiving a lot of assistance from the TNI, Polri, volunteers, BNPB\npersonnel and other relevant agencies. But we evaluate every day. If it\nis indeed needed in the future, we will certainly consider it,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In terms of budget, the Palangka Raya city government is using\nUnexpected Expenditure (BTT) funds as well as the BPBD Budget\nImplementation Document (DPA) to support the handling of forest fires\nand drought.<\/p>\n
With the emergency status extended until 8 September, the Palangka\nRaya city government is reminding the public not to be complacent.<\/p>\n
The increasingly dry land conditions coupled with limited water\nsources make the potential for fires increasingly difficult to handle.\nIn addition, residents are asked to avoid activities that could trigger\nfires and to report immediately if they find hotspots or plumes of smoke\naround residential areas and land areas.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/palangka-raya-declares-forest-fire-and-drought-emergency-as-water-crisis-spreads-1786434780", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }