BNPB: 'Fire breaking' technique used to combat forest fires in Pinrang

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has stated that efforts to extinguish forest and land fires in Pinrang Regency, South Sulawesi, are utilising a fire breaking technique to prevent the affected area from expanding.

Head of the BNPB Data, Information and Disaster Communication Centre, Abdul Muhari, said in a statement in Jakarta on Monday that the containment method was effective in localising the movement of the flames in the hilly terrain.

‘The forest and land fires struck the hilly area of Taddakong Village, Lembang District, Pinrang Regency, on Saturday evening (1/8) at around 19:00 Central Indonesia Time,’ he said.

He explained that the integrated firefighting process in the hilly area was carried out by the Pinrang Regional Disaster Management Agency’s Rapid Reaction Team together with the Fire Service, military and police personnel, and local residents.

The fire breaking method was executed by clearing and cutting containment lines around the fire’s perimeter whilst simultaneously spraying water on the ground to prevent the flames from spreading to a wider area of the hills.

According to reports from field officers, the fire was suspected to have been triggered by piles of dry leaves and twigs in the rocky hilly area that ignited due to exposure to intense sunlight.

The land fire is estimated to have scorched around five hectares of hillside vegetation.

‘There were no casualties and no residential areas were directly affected by the fire incident,’ he said.