OKU BPBD Forms Rapid Reaction Team for Forest and Land Fire Mitigation

The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU) Regency, South Sumatra, has formed a Rapid Reaction Team (TRC) to tackle forest and land fires (karhutla) in the area. Head of BPBD OKU Januar Efendi stated on Friday that the team was established to ensure fire incidents can be addressed as early as possible during this year’s prolonged dry season. The TRC, comprising personnel from BPBD OKU, the Indonesian National Armed Forces, the National Police, and other relevant agencies within the local government, totals 300 members. These personnel are deployed across 13 sub-districts in OKU Regency to remain on standby for early fire suppression. Five sub-districts are prioritised for monitoring as they contain the largest forest and land areas: Lengkiti, Lubuk Batang, Semidang Aji, Peninjauan, and Sinar Peninjauan. The team is tasked with assisting in firefighting, rescue, and the evacuation of communities affected by haze disasters. The presence of the TRC within the community is expected to prevent haze disasters in OKU Regency caused by forest and land fires. In addition to forming the TRC, the agency has also prepared various firefighting equipment, including water pump machines, hoses, chainsaws, fire-resistant clothing, oxygen, anti-pollution masks, portable water tanks, and six water supply trucks to extinguish fires in OKU Regency. BPBD OKU is also optimising the function of Fire-Conscious Community groups, particularly in sub-districts mapped as prone to fires during the prolonged dry season. Based on the Disaster Risk Assessment, 13 sub-districts in OKU fall into the medium vulnerability category for forest and land fires, but the five aforementioned sub-districts are the priority for field team monitoring.