BNPB confirms wildfire in Penajam Paser Utara fully contained

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has confirmed that a land fire affecting Penajam Paser Utara Regency, East Kalimantan, has been fully extinguished and did not spread to new ignition points.

Abdul Muhari, Head of the BNPB Data, Information and Disaster Communication Centre, stated in Jakarta on Thursday that this confirmation was obtained after a cross-agency joint task force moved swiftly to localise the fire’s spread in the field.

Abdul explained that the land fire incident was reported to have affected the area of Girimukti Village, Penajam District, Penajam Paser Utara Regency, on Wednesday (15/7). Based on a rapid assessment by the emergency team at the scene, the total area of vegetation burned as a result of the incident was reported to have reached 2.42 hectares.

The firefighting operation was carried out in an integrated manner by a joint team consisting of elements from the Penajam Paser Utara Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Penajam Post Fire and Rescue Service (DPKP), the Petung Post DPKP, and the Fire Brigade of the PPU Agriculture Office.

To accelerate the extinguishing process, he mentioned that firebreaks were also created, assisted by personnel from the Penajam Military Sub-district Command, PPU Resort Police, Petung Police Post, Civil Service Police Unit, and the local community, until the fire was completely extinguished on Wednesday evening.

The maximum effort by the joint task force was made to prevent the fire from spreading and becoming difficult to control, considering the fire location in Girimukti Village is a strategic area that serves as a connecting route to the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) area, with an estimated distance of about 20 kilometres from the Central Government Core Area (KIPP).

“The firefighting was carried out by the joint team until the fire was successfully extinguished on the same day, and it was confirmed that there was no expansion of fire points,” said Abdul.