Bukit Soeharto forest on fire

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: At least 2,000 hectares in the Bukit Soeharto conservation forest has been on fire for the past week, Antara reported yesterday.

The local authorities had set up a 300-strong team under Lt. Col. Adang Sondja to fight the fire spreading in the 61,000 hectare forest. The team was equipped with two water tanks, five bulldozers, ten trucks and buses.

The news agency reported that in some spots the fire had been controlled. However, in other spots, including in the Kilometer 60 along Balikpapan-Samarinda, thick, dark smoke was still seen billowing over the forest.

The fire fighters could not reach some of the fire locations because of difficult terrain. The authorities blamed forest squatters for the fire. (swe)