Babel forms cyber command post to accelerate forest fire handling

The Bangka Belitung Islands Provincial Government has formed a cyber command post for forest and land fires (karhutla) and drought, as a step to accelerate disaster response to the impacts of the extreme dry season in the region.

“Today, we are establishing a technology-based command post from the provincial level down to villages and sub-districts,” said Bangka Belitung Islands Governor Hidayat Arsani after the 2026 forest and land fire disaster response troop parade in Pangkalpinang on Monday.

He said the establishment of the technology-based forest and land fire and drought response post is intended to monitor hotspots, coordinate integrated patrols, and integrate reports from the public and the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the National Police, the Indonesian Military (TNI), and other relevant agencies in a unified manner.

“With this cyber command post, disaster handling will be faster in extinguishing forest and land fires and addressing drought in communities,” he said.

He stated that if a forest or land fire occurs, village and sub-district officers and members of the public can report it through the cyber command post, and BPBD, fire brigade, police, TNI, and other relevant agency personnel will arrive as quickly as possible to handle the fire.

“Combined personnel will arrive in the shortest possible time, so that losses from the fire can be minimised,” he said.

Bangka Belitung Islands Police Chief Inspector General Viktor T. Sihombing said the establishment of the post is aimed at improving disaster preparedness for the impacts of the extreme dry season caused by the El Niño phenomenon.

“If there is a report of a fire incident, we will immediately deploy police, TNI, BPBD, Basarnas, and other personnel to extinguish the forest and land fire,” he said.

He urged the public and plantation business operators not to use burning to clear new land, as it has the potential to cause large fires that harm other communities.

“We urge the public not to use burning methods, including burning rubbish. Sometimes burning rubbish seems small, but if left unattended the fire will grow larger, and we must control the fire while it is still small. When small it is a friend, but when large it becomes an enemy,” he said.