Ogan Komering Ulu Forms Village-Level Forest and Land Fire Preparedness Teams

The Ogan Komering Ulu Regency Government (OKU), South Sumatra, has formed village-level forest and land fire (karhutla) preparedness teams to face this year’s prolonged dry season. OKU Regent Teddy Meilwansyah in Baturaja on Thursday stated that ahead of the dry season, his administration has undertaken various preventive measures against karhutla, from community socialisation to the formation of preparedness teams at the village level. “We are now entering the dry season, so efforts to prevent karhutla must be carried out as early as possible,” he said. He explained that forming village-level karhutla preparedness teams or Community Fire Care Groups (MPA) is a crucial step for early mitigation against the potential haze disaster. Each village in OKU Regency is also requested to prepare minimal equipment (portable water pumps, rakes, fire beaters) and a village command post secretariat as an early response effort if karhutla occurs. “We also attended the 2026 Forest and Land Fire Control Coordination Meeting organised by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in Jakarta on Tuesday (7/4),” he said. He elaborated that the coordination meeting aims to strengthen cross-regional coordination in efforts to prevent and address forest and land fires that frequently occur during the dry season. During the meeting, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry emphasised that every region should enhance preparedness, from early detection and routine patrols to enforcing the law against land burning perpetrators. “Alhamdulillah, that coordination meeting was very useful for OKU Regency because we obtained information and strategic steps to prepare for natural disasters, including forest and land fires,” he emphasised.