Bengkulu Provincial Government Records 1,350 Hotspots Until August 2026
The Environmental and Forestry Office (DLHK) of Bengkulu Province has recorded 1,350 hotspots detected within the local area up until the end of August 2026.
“From January to 27 August 2026, these hotspots are spread across several regencies, which require more intensive attention in efforts towards forest and land fire prevention and preparedness,” said the Head of the Bengkulu Provincial DLHK, Safnizar, in Bengkulu on Tuesday.
Safnizar stated that this hotspot data serves as a primary basis for the local government in determining prevention and monitoring efforts for forest and land fires (karhutla).
The data is also being used to consider the preparation of personnel as well as the deployment of facilities and infrastructure to support rapid response when fires occur.
Of the 1,350 recorded hotspots, Kaur Regency recorded the highest number, with 366 points. According to him, this indicates that the distribution of hotspots across the Bengkulu Province is uneven.
Furthermore, he noted that this data needs to be paired with indications of the total burnt area so that the government can obtain a more complete picture of the actual forest and land fire conditions on the ground.
Based on the indicated area of forest and land fires, Safnizar noted that the total area has reached 125.15 hectares. The distribution of this burnt area is also uneven across the Bengkulu region.
“If we compare the hotspot data with the burnt area data, there is a need to increase spatial analysis and field verification,” he said.
Safnizar explained that analysis and field verification are necessary so that the government does not only know the locations where hotspots appear, but can also identify the possibilities, incident locations, regional characteristics, causes, patterns of occurrence, and factors influencing the fires.
More complete information, he added, is required to determine effective prevention steps while simultaneously adjusting preparedness to the conditions of each specific area.
“We must not wait until a fire becomes large before we act. Early detection must be the first action, prevention must be the priority, rapid response must become our work culture, and coordination must be our collective strength,” said Safnizar.
The Bengkulu Provincial DLHK will subsequently strengthen prevention and monitoring efforts through integrated patrols, as well as socialisation and education for all parties.
These efforts will be carried out by involving various elements according to their respective duties, functions, and authorities to strengthen the prevention, early detection, and handling of forest and land fires in the Bengkulu region.