Forest Fire Continues to Spread on Remote Land, Firefighters Hindered by Access Roads
Forest and land fires (karhutla) have been hitting the Lambagu Hamlet area, Sumare Village, Simboro District, Mamuju Regency, West Sulawesi, since Thursday afternoon. To date, the flames have not been fully contained.
The primary obstacle is that the fire hotspots are located far beyond the reach of firefighting vehicles due to the difficult-to-access terrain.
The incident was reported by the Disaster Management Rapid Response Team (TRC PB) to the Disaster Management Operations Control Centre (Pusdalops-PB) of the West Sulawesi BPBD. The fire was first spotted around 1:30 PM WITA, but firefighting efforts continued well into the night.
The same location also caught fire on 28 May 2026, only one week earlier. This has raised questions regarding the cause of the recurring fires, which is currently under investigation by teams on the ground.
The Head of the West Sulawesi BPBD, Muhammad Yasir Fattah, emphasised that disaster management is being conducted in an integrated manner, prioritising public safety and accelerated response.
The joint team deployed includes the Provincial and Mamuju Regency BPBD, Provincial and Regency Fire Departments, the Forest and Land Fire Control Agency (Dalkarhutla), the National Police, as well as Village Governments and the West Sulawesi BPMOD TRC PB.
However, the hilly terrain and minimal access for firefighting vehicles remain the main challenges. Officers can only rely on manual equipment and wetting strategies from a limited distance.
As of the latest report, no injuries, fatalities, or displaced residents have been recorded. The total area burned and the estimated losses are still being assessed.
Muhammad Yasir Fattah reminded the public not to clear land by burning, especially amidst hot weather and the dry season. “A single cigarette butt or a small spark can spread rapidly. Coordination with village officials and local firefighters is essential,” he stated.
Members of the public who spot fire hotspots or smoke plumes around forest areas are expected to report immediately to the West Sulawesi BPBD Pusdalops-PB.