First Day Back at Work After Eid, South Sumatra Police Chief and Team on Alert to Tackle Forest and Land Fires While Enhancing Public Services

Entering the first working day after the long Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah holiday, the South Sumatra Regional Police wasted no time. The police ranks immediately strengthened internal coordination to address upcoming challenges, from security to potential natural disasters.

This step was marked by a morning roll call combined with a Halal Bihalal event at the South Sumatra Police Headquarters on Wednesday, 25 March 2026. The event was directly led by South Sumatra Police Chief Irjen Pol. Sandi Nugroho and attended by all ranks of leadership and personnel, including the Deputy Police Chief and other key officials.

In an atmosphere still thick with Eid festivities, the Police Chief expressed appreciation to all members who had worked hard to maintain security during Ramadan up to Eid al-Fitr. He stressed that the conducive situation felt by the public did not happen by chance but was the result of cross-sectoral cooperation.

“The success of this security is a tangible manifestation of our service. However, the task of protecting the public does not stop here. Personnel must continue to monitor traffic flow dynamics until Operation Ketupat officially ends tonight at 24:00 WIB,” the Police Chief emphasised in his address.

However, the discussion focus did not stop at evaluating Eid security. The Police Chief instead spotlighted a greater challenge ahead, namely the threat of forest and land fires (karhutla) that could potentially increase in the coming months.

Based on BMKG forecast data, the 2026 climate conditions are predicted to enter a neutral phase without extreme El Niño influence. Nevertheless, the dry season is expected to arrive earlier, by 1 to 3 decades ahead in several regions, including South Sumatra.

Not only that, this year’s dry season is also predicted to be drier than the previous year. Its peak is estimated to occur during the May to August 2026 period.

These conditions certainly increase the risk of hot spots emerging that could develop into large fires, especially in vulnerable areas.

Seeing this potential, the Police Chief emphasised the importance of early preparedness. He reminded that handling karhutla cannot be done alone but requires cooperation from various parties, including local government, TNI, and the community.