Belitung Firefighters Successfully Extinguish One-Hectare Land Fire

The fire has been extinguished and the condition is now safe, with the total burnt area estimated at roughly one hectare; the cause of the fire is not yet known.

Tanjungpandan (ANTARA) - The fire brigade team of the Belitung Regency BPBD in Bangka Belitung Islands Province successfully extinguished a dry land fire in Dukong Village, Tanjungpandan Subdistrict, on Saturday (11 July) at 13.10 local time.

“Alhamdulillah, the land fire in Dukong Village, Tanjungpandan, covering one hectare, was successfully extinguished by the Belitung BPBD fire brigade,” said the Head of the Belitung BPBD Executive, Zainal Harison, in Tanjungpandan on Saturday.

He said the land fire occurred between 12.05 and 13.10 local time.

“The Belitung BPBD fire brigade’s Second Watch Squad immediately went to the scene and carried out extinguishing operations,” he said.

Zainal stated that thanks to the alertness of the Belitung BPBD fire brigade team, the blaze — nicknamed Si Jago Merah — was successfully put out and did not spread to the surrounding dry land.

“The condition is now safe, the fire has been extinguished and the total burnt area is approximately one hectare, while the cause of the fire is not yet known,” he said.

The incident occurred amid scorching hot weather and strong winds, although rain remained a possibility.

The Belitung BPBD has urged the public not to burn land or forests, or to burn waste without supervision. Residents are prohibited from expanding plantation land by burning, for fear that the fire could spread.

“We invite the public to work together to guard against the potential for forest and land fires. If a forest fire occurs, report it immediately to the fire brigade post,” he said.