BNPB: Ground-based watering successfully extinguishes forest fires in Mamuju & Minahasa

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) stated that ground-based watering efforts by joint task force teams have successfully extinguished and controlled peatland fires in Central Mamuju Regency, West Sulawesi, and North Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi.

The Acting Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Centre, Berton SP Panjaitan, stated in Jakarta on Monday that the ground-based watering was conducted as a rapid response by the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) teams in both regions.

“The Central Mamuju Regency BPBD, along with joint teams, deployed two vehicles and spray tanks to perform ground-based watering, resulting in the complete extinguishment of two hectares of burning peatland in Tobadak Village,” said Berton.

Berton explained that the peatland fire in Central Mamuju, suspected to have been triggered by discarded cigarette butts on Saturday (19/9), was fully extinguished by officers on Sunday (20/9).

To address the fires, he revealed that the North Minahasa BPBD led ground-based watering operations by deploying three BPBD vehicles, four North Minahasa Fire Brigade (Damkar) vehicles, and one TNI Fire Brigade unit.

As of Sunday (20/9), massive handling by the ground task force has successfully extinguished most of the area, leaving approximately 10 hectares of land currently undergoing intensive suppression.

The BNPB has urged the public not to discard cigarette butts carelessly and to avoid land clearing through burning to anticipate the potential rise in forest and land fires during the peak of the dry season.