Forestry Minister Seeks to Bring Liang Anggang Forest Fire Under Control Quickly

Banjarbaru (ANTARA) – Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni is working to bring the forest and land fires in the Liang Anggang protected forest in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, under control as quickly as possible, with maximum efforts by ground task forces supported by aerial operations.

“Manggala Agni teams are currently on standby around the clock, supported by the Indonesian Military (TNI), the National Police (Polri) and volunteer fire brigades,” he said in Banjarbaru on Monday.

The South Kalimantan Forestry Agency has deployed 150 personnel in combined teams to patrol the area and staff several posts.

Alongside firefighting on the ground, two National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) helicopters conduct water-bombing operations every day, dousing areas that are difficult to reach.

The minister also praised measures to re-wet the protected forest through canals, maintaining soil moisture and helping prevent new fires from breaking out.

Using available water supplies, crews are pumping water into irrigation networks and canals around the area.

Raja Juli said he was optimistic that these efforts would contain the fires and prevent them from spreading further.

The Liang Anggang protected forest covers 2,250 hectares, divided into two blocks: 960 hectares in Gambut Subdistrict, Banjar Regency, and 1,290 hectares in Liang Anggang Subdistrict, Banjarbaru City.

The fires have affected 167 hectares across several locations.