BNPB Conducts Water Bombing to Extinguish Forest and Land Fires in West Aceh

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) is conducting aerial fire suppression using water bombing to extinguish forest and land fires (karhutla), which are still occurring in several sub-districts within West Aceh Regency. “Water bombing is currently underway in the karhutla area of Cot Seumeureng Village, Samatiga District, West Aceh Regency,” said Teuku Ronal, Acting Head of the West Aceh Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), to reporters on Thursday. Water bombing is a firefighting technique, particularly for forest and land fires, carried out from the air by dropping or spraying large quantities of water onto hotspots. This method is heavily relied upon to reach fire locations that are difficult or dangerous for ground teams to access. The method utilises specialised aircraft, such as helicopters carrying giant bambi buckets or fixed-wing planes. The water dropped soaks the area around the fire while drastically lowering the temperature to extinguish the blaze. He explained that on Tuesday (9/6), the focus of operations was directed to Bubon District with the assistance of a water bombing helicopter, whilst a firefighting team from the Meureubo Post successfully contained a fire in Ujong Tanoh Darat Village, Meureubo District, West Aceh Regency. Land affected by the fires includes areas in Bubon District, covering Berawang Village (15 hectares) and Kuta Padang Layung Village (10 hectares); in Samatiga District, Cot Seumeurueng Village (two hectares); and in Arongan Lambalek District, Gunung Pulo Village (one hectare). Teuku Ronal stated that efforts to extinguish forest and land fires in West Aceh Regency are continuing in collaboration with joint teams on both the ground and via air routes, with the hope that the flames can be completely extinguished.