Firefighting Officer Falls in Duty, DPR Demands Maximum Protection for Manggala Agni

Deputy Chairman of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Alex Indra Lukman, emphasised that forest and land firefighting (karhutla) work is one of the high-risk professions.

The statement responds to the tragic news from the karhutla frontline in Riau on Monday (30/3). A member of Squad 4 Manggala Agni Daops Siak, Muharmizan (44), passed away suddenly after carrying out firefighting duties in Desa Palkun, Kecamatan Bengkalis, Kabupaten Bengkalis.

“Life is very precious. Therefore, safety equipment is very important to be available and used completely during duty. Do not let incidents happen where the Manggala Agni team carries out tasks with minimal safety standards,” Alex stressed in a written statement on Wednesday (1/4).

A similar incident previously befell Ipda Donald Junus Halomoan, an officer from Brimob Polda Riau, who passed away on Sunday, 4 August 2025, while on duty handling karhutla in Kecamatan Simpang Kanan, Kabupaten Rokan Hilir.

In response to the recurring incidents affecting personnel nicknamed ‘Panglima Api’, Alex reminded the Forestry Ministry’s ranks to ensure that sudden death cases do not recur, either for Manggala Agni personnel or other officials involved in karhutla suppression.

“Representing the leadership and members of Commission IV DPR RI, we convey our deepest condolences over the passing of one member of Squad 4 Manggala Agni Daops Siak,” Alex stated.

“The cause of the Manggala Agni personnel’s passing must be investigated thoroughly, so that similar incidents do not recur in the future,” he added.

In addition, Alex requested that the 956 Manggala Agni personnel under the control of the Forest Fire Control Centre (Dalkarhut) Sumatera, which oversees 10 provinces on the island of Andalas, receive health and occupational safety insurance protection.

“This health and occupational safety insurance protection is important, as proof of the state’s presence in protecting the families of personnel who bear the burden of state duties,” Alex explained.

He also emphasised the importance of regular health checks for all Manggala Agni personnel.

“With regular health checks, the safety of personnel deployed to extinguish raging fires will be better maintained, thus not triggering workplace accidents,” he said.

The body of the late Muharmizan has been buried in his hometown in Kampung Rempak, Kecamatan Sabak Auh, Kabupaten Siak, Riau.

Meanwhile, the Head of Emergency Division of BPBD and Damkar Riau, Jim Gafur, revealed that there are 21 fire points (hotspots) scattered across several areas in Riau.

In Kabupaten Pelalawan, there are three active fire points, namely in Desa Merbau (Kecamatan Bunut), Desa Pulau Muda (Kecamatan Teluk Meranti), and Desa Teluk Dalam (Kecamatan Kuala Kampar). All three are still emitting thick smoke, so the suppression process continues.

In Kota Dumai, out of five monitored fire points, most have been successfully extinguished. Two points in Kelurahan Mundam (Kecamatan Medang Kampai) and one point in Kelurahan Bagan Besar Timur (Kecamatan Bukit Kapur) are reported to be completely out.

Meanwhile, one point in Kelurahan Tanjung Palas still has thin smoke and is in the cooling stage.

In Kabupaten Indragiri Hulu, two fire points were detected in Desa Sekip Hilir and Desa Redang. One point has been completely extinguished, while the other is still in the cooling process.

A similar situation occurred in Kabupaten Indragiri Hilir with three fire points in Desa Pasir Mas, Desa Teluk Nibung, and Desa Bekawan, which are still emitting thin smoke.

Kabupaten Bengkalis has become the area with the most fire points, namely eight points. Several locations such as Desa Sukarjo Mesim, Pergam, Teluk Lecah, to Titi Akar are still reported to have active fires accompanied by thick smoke.

Suppression efforts continue intensively, including the use of heavy equipment for containment to prevent the fire from spreading.

The Forestry Ministry (Kemenhut) through the Directorate General of Forest Law Enforcement continues to intensify forest and land fire control (Dalkarhutla) efforts in Riau Province.

Squads from Manggala Agni continue to intensify suppression efforts at several fire points in Riau Province and Kepulauan Riau.