Joint Team Simulates Forest Fire Handling in Core Area of Nusantara Capital
A joint team comprising the Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN), several ministries, agencies, local governments, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the National Police (Polri), business entities, and the community worked together on Friday afternoon to tackle a forest and land fire disaster in the core government area of Nusantara Capital (IKN). The joint team, numbering dozens of personnel, ultimately managed to control the blaze and prevent it from spreading to surrounding areas. The readiness of personnel and facilities, supported by effective coordination on the ground, ensured the handling proceeded without obstacles and the fire was brought under control.
This forest and land fire incident in the IKN area was part of a simulation exercise conducted by the joint team to anticipate potential disasters resulting from the dry season caused by the El Niño phenomenon in 2026. The activity was witnessed by Head of the IKN Authority, Basuki Hadimuljono, along with other OIKN officials and related authorities.
The simulation demonstrated two scenarios for handling forest and land fires. The first scenario depicted the response to a fire occurring in the urban forest area of the KIPP IKN. The second scenario simulated handling a public report received through the IKNOW application. Through the IKNOW app, the public can report indications of fire by pressing the panic button feature available on the application. The report is received in real-time by officers at the Nusantara Command Centre as part of an early warning system. Officers then coordinate with forest police and firefighting units to verify and handle the situation on the ground. In addition to utilising the digital reporting system, the IKN Authority also uses thermal drones to help detect hotspots more accurately, especially in areas difficult for ground personnel to reach.
On the occasion, Basuki Hadimuljono explained that the simulation activity is part of efforts to ensure that early detection systems, cross-sector coordination, and field response handling run in an integrated manner. He noted that the El Niño impact is a cyclical climate phenomenon that can affect rainfall patterns in Indonesia, potentially increasing the risk of drought and forest and land fires, thus requiring early anticipatory measures. He stressed that protecting forest areas is an important part of Nusantara’s development. ‘We are on the equator, so there is always potential for forest fires. I want to remind everyone that we must protect nature so that nature protects us. This principle must guide us in safeguarding the forest areas in Nusantara,’ said Basuki.
He revealed that monitoring data for June 2026 recorded 40 hotspots with a medium confidence level and one hotspot with a low confidence level in Kutai Kartanegara Regency, which lies within the IKN delineation area. Meanwhile, Penajam Paser Utara Regency recorded no hotspots. Entering July 2026, the number of hotspots in Kutai Kartanegara increased to 44 with a medium confidence level, one with a high confidence level, and one with a low confidence level, while Penajam Paser Utara remained at zero hotspots.
Mitigation efforts for forest and land fires in IKN are carried out through collaboration among various parties, including provincial and regency disaster management agencies (BPBD), the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS), the TNI/Polri, the Ministry of Forestry, business entities, and the community. The IKN Authority is also strengthening community involvement through Disaster Resilient Villages and Community Fire Care Groups as the front line in early prevention and handling of forest and land fires.
Head of the East Kalimantan Provincial BPBD, Buyung Dodi Gunawan, stated that cross-agency coordination continues to be strengthened to anticipate potential forest and land fires during the dry season. ‘We have prepared a disaster alert team. Additionally, we continue to monitor hotspot developments together with BMKG and the Ministry of Forestry, and maintain coordination with the IKN Authority in handling efforts,’ he concluded.