Jambi Forest Fire Task Force Readies Cessna for Weather Modification Support

Jambi City (ANTARA) - The forest and land fire (karhutla) task force of Jambi Province has placed a Cessna aircraft (PK-ALA) on standby to support Weather Modification Operations (OMC) should conditions permit, as well as aerial patrol activities.

“BNPB has now stationed a Cessna aircraft in Jambi that can be used for aerial patrols as well as salt seeding if there are cloud seeds,” said the Head of the Jambi Provincial BPBD, Bachyuni Deliansyah, in Jambi City on Tuesday.

Bachyuni explained that the threat of forest and land fires in Jambi Province continues to rise as the dry season intensifies.

As of 28 July 2026, his office recorded that approximately 222 hectares of land had burned across Jambi. The fires were spread across several areas, including Muaro Jambi, Batang Hari, West Tanjung Jabung (Tanjabbar) and East Tanjung Jabung (Tanjabtim) regencies.

He added that, based on weather forecasts, the dry season is predicted to last from July until October 2026.

To anticipate forest and land fires, the task force has established 81 field posts as the front line in fire-prone areas.

These posts serve as the first line of defence in carrying out early detection, community outreach and initial fire suppression.

As a preventive measure, Bachyuni urged the public not to clear land by burning and not to carelessly discard cigarette butts.

“We ask the public to look after the environment together. Do not clear land by burning and do not carelessly discard cigarette butts, because conditions are now extremely dry and prone to fires,” he reminded.