Indonesian National Police Deploy 198 Trainees to Prevent Forest and Land Fires from the Source
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian National Police (Polri) have deployed 198 trainees from SIP/Setukpa, Sespimma, and Master’s students from STIK to strengthen the prevention of forest and land fires (karhutla) through direct education to the community in four priority regions.
Head of Public Relations for Polri, Brigadier General Pol. Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, stated that the deployment of these police trainees is a preventive measure to build public awareness against clearing land through burning.
“Out of a total of 403 trainees, 198 personnel have been dispatched to priority locations. They are tasked with providing counselling and building community awareness so that forest and land fire prevention begins at the source,” Trunoyudo said in a statement in Jakarta on Sunday.
He noted that 103 personnel have been stationed at the West Kalimantan Regional Police, 48 at the Central Kalimantan Regional Police, 10 at the East Kalimantan Regional Police, and 37 at the South Sumatra Regional Police.
The trainees are coordinating with regional police ranks, district police, and community police officers (Bhabinkamtibmas) to provide education through dialogue and coaching, involving the community, indigenous leaders, community figures, and other relevant stakeholders.
“Forest and land fires cannot wait. Public awareness must be built before the fire appears. Therefore, the trainees are present directly among the community to remind them that land clearing should not be done by burning,” he said.
One of the regions receiving strengthened counselling is Katingan Regency, Central Kalimantan. Police personnel, alongside regional units, are providing guidance to the community to prevent land clearing via burning while simultaneously increasing vigilance against potential fire risks.
In addition to education, the National Police continue to conduct monitoring and early detection of fire potential, including handling and extinguishing fires if hotspots are discovered. Law enforcement is also being carried out against parties proven to have engaged in forest and land burning in accordance with statutory regulations.
“The most important thing is how fires can be prevented from the start. Therefore, we invite the community to work together to protect the environment, avoid clearing land by burning, and immediately report any potential or actual forest and land fires,” said Trontoyudo.
Polri hopes that the deployment of these trainees will strengthen community participation in preventing forest and land fires at the local and community levels, ensuring that fire potential can be managed before developing into a wider disaster.