Jambi Task Force Strengthens Preparedness Ahead of Dry Season to Anticipate Forest Fires

In anticipation of forest and land fires (karhutla) that threaten to escalate during a peak dry season forecast for August 2026, the Jambi Karhutla Task Force is on alert to deploy personnel to dozens of fire command posts in areas mapped as vulnerable. Jambi Governor Al Haris, acting as Commander of the Jambi Karhutla Task Force, announced the measures during a Karhutla Emergency Alert Ceremony held at the Garuda Putih Military Resort Command field on Wednesday (10/6). Haris expressed hope that the alert ceremony would strengthen coordination, synergy, and cooperation to mitigate and manage the fires that threaten every dry season. Based on information from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Haris noted that Jambi Province is facing a potentially hotter and drier dry season in 2026, with the peak predicted between August and September. Speaking before ceremony participants, Haris voiced his hope that the catastrophic karhutla disasters and severe haze of 2015 and 2019 would not be repeated in Jambi. “Of course, we do not want such incidents to recur. We must remain on guard and be vigilant from an early stage,” he stated. The governor reported that the number of hotspots in Jambi from 1 January to 7 June 2026 had reached 1,205 points, while the area of land burned up to 6 June 2026 was recorded at approximately 121 hectares. He urged all regents and mayors, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), Regional Disaster Management Agencies (BPBD), Manggala Agni firefighting teams, corporations, and all levels of society to mobilise their full resources, particularly for prevention measures. Meanwhile, the acting commander of the Jambi Karhutla Task Force, Brigadier General TNI Nyamin, who also serves as Commander of the 042/Garuda Putih Military Resort, confirmed that the deployment of personnel to the karhutla posts was carried out following the emergency alert ceremony. Jambi Regional Police Chief Inspector General Krisno H. Siregar, who attended the ceremony, stated that the Jambi Regional Police are ready to fully support prevention and mitigation efforts. This includes intensifying integrated patrols, providing education and outreach to the community, and taking firm legal action against individuals or corporations found conducting land burning.