Nine Volunteers Die While Fighting Forest and Land Fires

Ahmad Doli Kurnia Tandjung, deputy chair of the House of Representatives’ Legislation Body (Baleg), has expressed his condolences after nine volunteers died while fighting forest and land fires in various parts of Indonesia.

He conveyed his condolences in a post on his Instagram account, @ahmadolikurnia. In the post, he remembered the volunteers as courageous people who dedicated their energy, time and lives to protecting nature and saving lives.

“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un,” Ahmad Doli wrote in the post.

An accompanying black-and-white poster showed photographs and the names of the nine volunteers who died: Sukaris, Setriel Ardiansyah, Nurdin, Ahmadin, Munawi, Akhmad Rizani, Aries Sutio Luthfi Hadi, Wisnu Yuda Pratama and Hendra Rony Wagiyanata.

The poster also gave details of the volunteers’ duties and places of service, ranging from firefighters to personnel involved in responding to forest and land fires.

Ahmad Doli said their sacrifice was a reminder that efforts to protect the environment are not easy. Behind the fight to put out the fires, he said, lie significant risks for personnel and volunteers on the ground.

He said their dedication should serve as an example to the public, and expressed hope that their service in carrying out humanitarian duties would be remembered.

Ahmad Doli also prayed that Allah SWT would accept all the volunteers’ acts of worship and service. He hoped their families would be given strength and fortitude as they faced their loss.

“May Allah SWT accept all their acts of worship and service, forgive their shortcomings, place them in the best place by His side, and give strength and fortitude to the families they have left behind,” he wrote.

He thanked the volunteers for their courage and dedication in responding to the fires, saying their service would not be forgotten.

“Farewell to the champions of humanity. Your sacrifice will always be remembered,” Ahmad Doli wrote.