BNPB Provides Two Patrol Helicopters to Help Combat Forest and Land Fires in Riau

Pekanbaru, (ANTARA) – The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has provided assistance in the form of two patrol helicopters to aid in the handling and prevention of forest and land fires (Karhutla) in Riau Province. Jim Gafur, Head of the Emergency and Logistics Division of the Regional Disaster Management Agency and Fire Fighting (BPBD Damkar) Riau, said that the two patrol helicopters are currently stationed at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base, Pekanbaru. Both are ready to be operated to support prevention and handling of Karhutla. ‘We received two patrol helicopters from BNPB, namely each Type Bell 206 B3, Reg PK-FPA and Type Bell 206 L4, Reg PK-ZGK. They are already at Lanud Roesmin Nurjadin Pekanbaru,’ he said in Pekanbaru on Sunday. The two helicopters will be used to monitor fire conditions in Riau. If hotspots are found during patrols, they will be reported immediately for action by the joint team for extinguishing. ‘The helicopters will conduct aerial patrols in areas considered prone to Karhutla. If a Karhutla hotspot is found, it will be reported immediately to the joint team for extinguishing,’ he said. In addition to the patrol helicopters, BNPB previously dispatched aircraft for Weather Modification Operation (OMC) in Riau province. The artificial rainfall operation took place along the coastal areas of Riau where rainfall had begun to diminish. Meanwhile, to date, the authorities note that 11 regencies/cities in Riau have experienced Karhutla at the start of this year. Of these 11 areas, the total area burned is 1,161.64 hectares. The 11 districts are Bengkalis Regency, Kepulauan Meranti, Siak, Kampar, Pelalawan, Indragiri Hulu (Inhu), Indragiri Hilir (Inhil), Kuantan Singingi (Kuansing), Rokan Hilir (Rohil), the city of Dumai, and Pekanbaru. ‘To date, 11 areas in Riau have been found to experience Karhutla. The total burned area is 1,161.64 hectares,’ he added.