Fire ravages plantations

Fire ravages plantations

PADANG, West Sumatra: More than 2,000 hectares of oil palm
plantations in West Pasaman have been on fire since late last
month. The blaze has so far caused losses exceeding Rp 4 billion
(US$1.7 million).

Pasaman Regent Taufik Martha said Tuesday the authorities had
yet to determine the source of fire, but as most of the land is
peat moss it was possible the fire burned under the surface for a
long time without being detected.

The regent said the fire meant that harvest time would be
delayed by an additional four years as most of the oil palm trees
that caught fire were between three and four years old.

The companies affected by the fire are PT Tri Sangguna, PT
Anam Koto and PT Tulas Jaya. Seventy-five families, whose 150
hectares of land also caught fire, also suffered financial
losses.

In the Solok regency, some 1,000 hectares of pine forest have
been destroyed in a fire that started Feb. 2. Strong winds have
made it difficult to contain the flames.

A local official said the fire stopped Feb. 22 but the area
was still smoldering. Thirteen of the 26 villages in the regency
were affected by the fire because each village has between 100
and 200 hectares of pine forest.

No estimation of the financial losses was reported. (32/swe)