BNPB: Water Bombing Helicopters More Effective Before Forest Fires Spread
The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has asserted that the use of water bombing helicopters is more effective when forest and land fires (karhutla) are still in their early stages or just emerging, allowing for immediate suppression before they spread.
“Water bombing helicopters are not designed to extinguish very large-scale fires; rather, they are used when the fire is still limited so that aerial spraying can be more optimal,” said BNPB Deputy for Emergency Handling, Major General TNI Budi Irawan, while inspecting fire prevention efforts in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, on Saturday.
He explained that once fires have expanded, even increasing the number of water bombing helicopters would be unable to extinguish the entire area, as the capacity of water dropped from the air is limited compared to the vastness of the burning territory.
“The function of water bombing is for when the fire is just starting to smoulder; it should be addressed immediately via water bombing. Because once forest fires expand, even if we provide two, three, or more squadrons of water bombing helicopters, they will not be extinguished,” he stated.
He added that the BNPB implements a dynamic helicopter deployment pattern, repositioning fleets to priority provinces based on the development of the forest fire threat index in various regions.
He mentioned that South Kalimantan previously received support from four water bombing helicopters, but one unit has been moved to West Kalimantan and another to Central Kalimantan because the intensity of forest fires in those two regions is higher.
The Head of the South Kalimantan Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Ronny Eka Saputra, stated that two water bombing helicopters currently remain on standby in South Kalimantan after one unit each was reassigned to assist with fire management in West and Central Kalimantan.
“As stated by the BNPB, if the forest fire conditions in South Kalimantan escalate and require additional aerial support, the BNPB is prepared to shift water bombing helicopters from other regions to South Kalimantan to strengthen the fire management operations,” he said.