Joint task force extinguishes forest and land fires in Sumedang

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) stated that a joint task force successfully extinguished forest and land fires (karhutla) covering three hectares in the Sumedang Regency area, West Java.

The Head of the BNPB Data, Information and Disaster Communication Centre, Abdul Muhari, in Jakarta on Wednesday, said that the rapid response and handling by the joint officers, consisting of the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), Fire Service, TNI/Polri, and related agencies, was the main key to preventing the spread of the flames.

“Thanks to the rapid handling by the joint team, the fire was successfully extinguished,” he said.

The joint team, under the coordination of the Sumedang Regency BPBD, responded quickly shortly after receiving fire reports from the public.

According to him, efforts to localise the hotspots were carried out in an integrated manner through ground-based water spraying so that the spread of the fire to residential areas and other surrounding vegetation could be stopped.