Manggala Agni Teams Sleep in Villagers' Homes to Speed Up Riau Forest Fire Suppression

The teams’ overnight positions have shifted to the huts of residents closest to the site, so morning movements will be faster. “Our working principle is to move as early as possible…”

Pekanbaru, (ANTARA) - The Manggala Agni team of the Sumatra Forest Fire Control Bureau of the Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) in Riau Province is staying overnight in residents’ huts to speed up the extinguishing of an 80-hectare forest and land fire in Bengkalis Regency.

The head of the Sumatra Forest Fire Control Bureau (Dalkarhut), Ferdian Krisnanto, said the fire occurred in Pematang Pudu Urban Village, Mandau District. At the site, firefighting is currently being handled by seven Manggala Agni teams from the Siak, Dumai and Pekanbaru Operational Areas.

“The overnight positions have shifted to the huts of residents closest to the site, so morning movements will be faster. Our working principle is to move as early as possible, because one of the obstacles is that mobilisation takes a long time,” he said in a statement issued in Pekanbaru on Sunday.

This is because the site has abundant fuel conditions accompanied by strong winds, so firefighters at several points have had to chase surface fires that keep spreading. Three water-bombing helicopters have also been deployed at the site to assist the ground teams.

In addition to Manggala Agni, the TNI, the Indonesian National Police, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and local communities are also carrying out firefighting operations. Manggala Agni has been fighting the fire since Wednesday (15/7).

Besides Bengkalis, land fires have also been detected in Kasang Padang Village, Bonai Darussalam District, Rokan Hulu Regency. Firefighting there is being carried out by ground teams and a water-bombing helicopter from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

“The status is not yet extinguished. Firefighting personnel from the Pekanbaru Operational Area estimate the affected area at roughly 10 hectares. This morning it was reported that conditions are wet due to rain, but completion efforts are needed to ensure there is no potential for the fire to reignite,” said Ferdian.