Forestry Minister: BNPB support strengthens forest fire handling amid El Nino
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni stated that support from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) is strengthening the handling of forest and land fires (karhutla) in various regions amid the El Nino phenomenon.
“Forest and land fires are a serious problem that requires collaborative, integrated, measurable, and sustainable handling. I appreciate and thank BNPB for continuing to work together with the Ministry of Forestry in efforts to tackle forest and land fires on the ground,” said Raja Antoni in his statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.
The minister said that BNPB’s support is provided through ground and air operations, including Weather Modification Operations (OMC) and water bombing.
The cooperation between the Ministry of Forestry and BNPB includes OMC for forest and land fire mitigation. From February to July 2026, OMC was carried out continuously in several fire-prone provinces involving BNPB, the Ministry of Forestry, and private partners.
Specifically for forest and land fire mitigation, 17 operations were conducted over 169 days with 291 flight sorties.
“This cooperation with BNPB is very important, because handling forest and land fires requires a rapid response, both through prevention and suppression. OMC is one form of collaboration that we carry out to reduce the risk and impact of fires,” said Raja Antoni.
In addition to OMC, BNPB also deployed 40 air fleets consisting of 10 patrol aircraft, 27 water bombing helicopters, and three OMC aircraft.
For six priority provinces, BNPB deployed 36 air fleets consisting of 12 patrol fleets, 21 water bombing helicopters, and three OMC aircraft.
BNPB’s support was also evident in handling the fire in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS).
In that operation, an integrated team involving Manggala Agni, the TNBTS Centre, BPBD, BNPB, the community, the TNI, and the Polri was supported by two BNPB water bombing helicopters to reach difficult-to-access slope locations.
The fire, which lasted from 3 to 16 August 2026, was finally extinguished through the cooperation of all involved ministries and agencies.
“Once again, I express my appreciation to BNPB and all parties who have moved together to handle forest and land fires. We will continue to strengthen this kind of collaboration so that every forest and land fire threat can be responded to as quickly as possible and its impact on the environment and the community can be minimised,” said Forestry Minister Raja Antoni.