BNPB Verifies 61 Hotspots in West Kalimantan

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has stated that only 61 of the 166 hotspots detected by BMKG in West Kalimantan have been verified as actual fire locations based on field monitoring.

“From the 166 hotspots detected by BMKG, after our field checks, only 61 are truly fire points,” said BNPB Head Lieutenant General TNI Suharyanto during a coordination meeting for forest and land fire management at Supadio Airbase, Kubu Raya, on Friday.

Suharyanto noted that the verification was conducted to ensure that the hotspots detected by satellites accurately represent active fires on the ground. He added that the discrepancy in numbers indicates that satellite hotspot data must be followed up with field verification before being used as the basis for fire management efforts.

The Governor of West Kalimantan, Ria Norsan, stated that the number of hotspots has significantly decreased compared to previous conditions, which had reached over 2,000 points. “Currently, there are about 100 hotspots. This is certainly the result of cooperation and synergy between all parties,” he said.

Norsan emphasised that this decrease should not lead local governments or the public to reduce vigilance, as dry weather conditions still pose a potential risk for new fires. Meanwhile, the central government is strengthening management through weather modification operations, water bombing, and ground-based firefighting to re-wet fire-prone peatland areas.

These efforts are accompanied by more detailed mapping of fire locations down to the sub-district and village levels to ensure that the deployment of personnel and equipment is more precisely targeted. The government has also reminded the public not to clear land by burning and to report any fire points immediately to prevent widespread conflagrations.