East Kalimantan battles 24 hotspots as fire risk rises

“We recorded 24 hotspots today across several districts,” East Kalimantan BPBD Chief Executive Buyung Dodi Gunawan said in Samarinda on Friday.

Paser District currently has the highest concentration of forest and land fires among East Kalimantan’s districts, he said.

Authorities are also closely monitoring fires in Berau District, where field teams continue to respond to incidents, he said.

“We are strengthening patrols and deploying at least 10 personnel per team, supported by military and police officers and village volunteers,” he said.

The provincial government is also monitoring fluctuations in hotspot numbers by comparing historical records of land fires over the past several years.

East Kalimantan recorded more hotspots in August 2023 than during the 2015 El Nino. As of August 19, BMKG recorded 9,861 hotspots, exceeding 9,793 in August 2015.

“The surge in hotspots in previous years has prompted us to keep fire-response posts operating down to the local level,” Buyung said.

Firefighting efforts are often hampered by poor road access, making it difficult for water tankers to reach affected areas directly.

“Our personnel have had to use portable water tanks and connect hoses up to 200 meters long to wet the land,” he said.

The provincial government is also preparing a proposal for weather modification operations to wet fire-prone areas and replenish agricultural reservoirs, particularly around Nusantara, Indonesia’s new capital.

Authorities believe weather modification could reduce the risk of new hotspots despite challenges from shifting wind directions that are difficult to predict.

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Translator: Ahmadz R, Rahmad Nasution