Efforts to Extinguish Forest and Land Fires in Bengkalis, Riau, Continue to be Intensified
Efforts to extinguish forest and land fires (karhutla) at several points in Bengkalis Regency, Riau, continue to be intensified. The current focus of fire suppression in Riau is on several villages in Bengkalis Subdistrict and surrounding areas, with reinforcement of personnel from various Manggala Agni operational areas (daops).
Head of the Sumatra Region Forest Fire Control Agency, Ferdian Krisnanto, stated that in Desa Palkun, Bengkalis Subdistrict, suppression has entered its first day with operational control assistance (BKO) from the Pekanbaru Daops with one squad of personnel.
The team is also assisted by one unit of heavy equipment to create a reservoir as a water source. However, the karhutla suppression process in Riau is not yet optimal because the created reservoir is still waiting to be filled with water.
“This will continue to be attempted with a scheme of moving portable pumps forward to the fire front with water sources from the created reservoir,” said Ferdian on Tuesday (7/4).
Meanwhile, positive developments occurred in Desa Titi Akar, Rupat Utara Subdistrict. After eight days of operations, the fire at that location has been successfully resolved.
Four combined teams consisting of two teams from Daops Sumatra V/Dumai, one BKO team from Sarolangun, and one BKO team from Musi Banyuasin were declared successful in completing suppression to clear and clean status.
In Desa Sekodi, Bengkalis Subdistrict, suppression is still ongoing on the fourth day. One squad from Daops Siak is handling it together with water bombing support to accelerate the suppression process.
“Similar conditions also occur in Desa Kelemantan Barat. The team faces challenges from strong winds that caused the fire to briefly breach the created barriers. Suppression efforts continue by widening the fire barriers, although water availability is limited,” he said.
Outside Bengkalis, specifically in Desa Gambut Mutiara, Teluk Meranti Subdistrict, Pelalawan Regency, good news came after the fire was declared extinguished on the fourth day.
“The combined team from Daops Rengat and BPBD has completed the mopping up process to clean and clear status,” he said.
In addition to ground suppression, weather modification operations (OMC) were also conducted with one sortie flight on the Dumai–Rupat route. However, until nightfall, no potential clouds suitable for rain seeding were detected.
“To strengthen handling, an additional squad from Daops Siak is deployed to Desa Kembung Luar, Bengkalis. Meanwhile, the BKO teams from Musi Banyuasin (South Sumatra) and Sarolangun (Jambi) have begun demobilisation,” he explained.
Currently, the Forest and Land Fire Control Task Force (Dalkarhut) is concentrating forces in the Bengkalis area with a total of four squads spread across Desa Palkun, Kelemantan Barat, Sekodi, and Kembung Luar.
“We are concentrating in Bengkalis with the strength of four squads spread across several points. We request prayers and support so that the suppression process runs smoothly,” he concluded.
The death of a Manggala Agni personnel in Bengkalis has triggered demands from the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) for improvements in safety standards and insurance.
The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) through the Directorate General of Forest Law Enforcement continues to intensify forest and land fire control (Dalkarhutla) efforts in Riau Province.
Manggala Agni forest and land fire suppression squads continue to intensify suppression efforts at several fire points in Riau Province and Riau Islands.
The Indonesian Air Force TNI and BNPB continue to intensify the implementation of Weather Modification Operations (OMC) to tackle karhutla in Riau.
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) is conducting Weather Modification Operations (OMC) in Jambi Province for 10 days, from 10 to 19 August 2025.
The Law Enforcement Team (Gakkum) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) is investigating fire cases in concession areas of eight companies in South Kalimantan Province.
Forest and land fires (karhutla) have occurred in South Kalimantan Province (Kalsel). This incident involves two regencies/cities, namely Banjarbaru City and Hulu Sungai Tengah Regency.
Optimistically, Indonesia has been able to prove in recent years that it can significantly address karhutla, as in 2015.