Combined team battles forest and land fires at four locations in Riau

Pekanbaru — A combined team of military, police, and disaster response personnel continue intensive efforts to extinguish forest and land fires (karhutla) at four active fire points across Riau Province that remain under suppression and cooling operations by field personnel in several districts.

Jim Ghafur, Head of Emergency Operations at Riau’s Regional Disaster Management and Fire Extinguishing Agency (BPBD Damkar), explained that the four karhutla points are spread across two regencies: Indragiri Hilir and Bengkalis.

“There are currently four fire points under treatment. Three points are in Indragiri Hilir Regency and one in Bengkalis Regency,” said Jim Ghafur in Pekanbaru on Tuesday.

The combined team, comprising the Indonesian Military (TNI), National Police (Polri), Manggala Agni, BPBD, and the Community Fire Response initiative (MPA), continues working intensively to ensure the fires are quickly controlled and do not spread to other areas.

Currently, extinguishing efforts are being conducted by ground routes by the combined team deployed at the incident locations. Helicopter water bombing assistance from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) remains under preparation and has not yet arrived in Riau Province. Consequently, current fire suppression efforts rely on personnel strength and ground-based equipment.

“For now, extinguishing efforts are being conducted by ground routes. Helicopter water bombing assistance from BNPB has not yet reached Riau,” said Jim Ghafur.