Ministry of Forestry Strengthens Forest and Land Fire Suppression Operations in Four Sumatran Provinces

The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) is strengthening forest and land fire (karhutla) suppression operations in four Sumatlam provinces: Aceh, Riau, Jambi, and South Sumatra.

Ferdian Krisnanto, Head of the Forest Fire Control Office (Dalkarhut) for the Sumatra Region of the Ministry of Forestry, confirmed from Jakarta on Wednesday that rapid responses are being implemented to tackle fires in these four provinces. “Our focus is to respond quickly to every reported hotspot, limit the expansion of burnt areas, and ensure thorough cooling is completed. In peatland areas, embers can persist beneath the surface even after flames appear extinguished,” said Krisnanto.

Consequently, teams are conducting re-inspections, cooling, prevention patrols, and monitoring hotspots for early detection and rapid action. Cross-operational area (Daops) assistance from the Manggala Agni fire control brigade is also being implemented to ensure field personnel receive sufficient support and new fire locations can be addressed immediately.

He explained that rapid responses are underway for fires in Nagan Raya Regency, Aceh, specifically in Kayee Unou Village, Darul Makmur District, and Babah Lueng Village, Tripa Makmur District. These efforts require special attention as the locations are situated in peatland areas with highly flammable vegetation.

Suppression operations in Riau Province have also been bolstered, with focus expanding to four locations: Pecing Bekulo Village in Siak Regency, Rantau Bais in Rokan Hilir Regency, Sokoi Village in Pelalawan, and a new fire location on Rupat Island in Bengkalis Regency. To accelerate suppression and cooling, the Sumatra Forest Fire Control Office has deployed Manggala Agni personnel from Sumatra IV Daops Pekanbaru, Sumatra IX Daops Jambi City, and Sumatra XII Daops Muara Tebo to Rupat Island.

Manggala Agni is also managing fires in Jambi and South Sumatra. Manggala Agni Sumatra X Daops Muara Bulian, alongside the National Police and local communities, successfully extinguished a fire in Durian Luncuk Village, Batin XXIV District, Batanghari Regency, Jambi, on Tuesday (2/6). On the same day, Manggala Agni Sumatra XIV Daops Banyuasin, in collaboration with the Ogan Ilir Regency Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the TNI, the National Police, and supported by one water bombing unit, completed suppression in Sungai Rambutan Village, North Indralaya District, Ogan Ilir Regency, South Sumatra.