BNPB Says Those Responsible for Forest Fires Will Not Escape the Law

The head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Lieutenant General Kristomei Sianturi, said the government would take firm action against anyone who deliberately started a forest fire, whether an individual or a corporation.

Kristomei said those responsible for forest and land fires (karhutla) would be dealt with by law enforcement authorities in accordance with applicable regulations.

“Whether committed by an individual or a corporation, if there is evidence of intent, the perpetrators must be dealt with under the applicable rules,” Kristomei said after a coordination meeting on the response to the Mount Arjuno forest and land fires at Among Tani City Hall in Batu, East Java, on Friday (23 October 2026).

He stressed that anyone proven to have deliberately started a forest fire would face legal proceedings under the relevant regulations.

Kristomei said forest and land fires caused serious consequences, not only material losses but also threats to the safety of the public and joint response teams working on the ground.

He urged all parts of society—including ministries and agencies, the Indonesian Military (TNI), the National Police, local governments, the private sector and the public—to work together to prevent and tackle fires.

“This disaster response is a shared concern, so anyone can take part in efforts to deal with it,” he said.

Kristomei also called on the public and companies to raise their awareness of protecting the environment, including by ensuring that forest areas remain free of fires.

He said the work of joint teams tackling fires in the field needed to be supported by awareness and understanding among all parties. Without that support, forest and land fires could recur in the future.

“Please stop burning. Once again, please tell the public that there must be no further attempts to set fires,” he said.