Drying Water Sources Hinder Forest Fire Suppression Efforts in South Kalimantan

Forest and land fires in South Kalimantan continue to spread amid increasingly dry conditions, with dwindling water sources now posing a major obstacle to firefighting efforts. The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Banjarbaru has recorded that more than 600 hectares of forest and land in the area have been burned so far. “This is a serious concern for all of us, considering this area is in ring one or close to Syamsudin Noor International Airport,” said Zaini Syahranie, Head of BPBD Banjarbaru. The Landasan Ulin sub-district has been the worst affected. The region’s predominantly peatland characteristics make fires extremely difficult to extinguish once ignited. BPBD South Kalimantan Head Ronny Eka Saputra acknowledged that firefighting operations are increasingly hampered by the depletion of water sources such as rivers and reservoirs due to the prolonged dry season. Firefighting teams are currently relying on water tankers and helicopters, though the province’s aerial capacity has been reduced from four to two water-bombing helicopters, with the other two redeployed to assist in West and Central Kalimantan. Authorities are now reviewing the possibility of conducting weather modification operations to induce rainfall. The recurring fires, largely triggered by land clearing activities, have also caused smoke haze that disrupts flight schedules and degrades air quality in the Banjarbaru area.