Anticipating Forest and Land Fires, Ministry of Forestry Detects 73 Hotspots in South Kalimantan
The Ministry of Forestry has detected a total of 73 hotspots in South Kalimantan that could potentially trigger forest and land fires.
Wahyu Nurhidayat, Head of the Banjarbaru Sustainable Forest Management Unit, said the findings were obtained from monitoring conducted through the Forest and Land Fire Control Information System.
He explained that of the 73 hotspots detected, 14 are located within Forest Utilisation Business Permit areas. Wahyu said the findings have been submitted to each permit holder so they can carry out field checks to prevent the potential spread of fires.
“The monitoring results from the Ministry of Forestry’s SIPONGI system using the NASA-NOAA20 satellite on 12 August 2026 identified 73 hotspots in South Kalimantan with a medium confidence level,” he said in a written statement on Sunday.
“The monitoring information was then conveyed to permit holders for immediate field verification and the earliest possible handling should any indication of fire be found,” he added.
He detailed that six hotspots are located within the PT Inhutani I Unit Pelaihari area, six within PT Dwima Intiga, one within PT Hutan Rindang Banua, and one within PT Prima Multibuana.
Wahyu said hotspot information serves as an important instrument in the early warning system because it allows every potential fire to be addressed before it develops into a larger blaze.
Nevertheless, he noted that the presence of a hotspot does not automatically indicate a fire, as it merely records a temperature anomaly. Therefore, he said, immediate direct inspection is necessary to mitigate the risk of potential fires.
“Every hotspot identified within a permit holder’s working area needs to be verified on the ground immediately. Hotspot information is part of the early warning system so that potential fires can be identified and addressed from the earliest stage,” he said.
Furthermore, he said strengthening the early detection system and rapid response is in line with the policy direction of Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni to reinforce data-based forest protection and collaboration among multiple parties.
This is because preventing forest and land fires does not rely solely on extinguishing fires once they have grown large, but begins with the ability to detect potential threats as early as possible.
On the other hand, his office continues to encourage permit holders to increase patrols, personnel readiness, fire control facilities and infrastructure, and to accelerate responses to every hotspot notification or report of fire indications.
“This approach places satellite monitoring as the initial part of the prevention chain. The information obtained must then be forwarded to area managers, verified in the field, and followed by action if indications of fire are found,” he said.