Bukit Soeharto forest on fire

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)