Prabowo Deploys 1,000 Officers for Forest Fire Prevention Education
Prabowo Deploys 1,000 Officers for Forest Fire Prevention Education
Reporter
September 25, 2026 | 05:53 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has ordered 1,000 military officers to be deployed to districts across the country to educate communities as part of efforts to prevent forest and land fires.
Prabowo made the announcement during a meeting with experts and academics to discuss peatland management and the risk of forest and land fires at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, September 24.
“I have assigned the military, and perhaps later the police as well. I will deploy 1,000 officers, majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels. I will send them to those districts to provide education,” Prabowo said, according to a video uploaded by the Presidential Secretariat on Friday.
He said the deployment was part of the government’s efforts to strengthen fire prevention at the local level, particularly by educating communities about how to clear and manage land without using fire.
The government is also preparing solutions for people who need land so that the need for land does not become a reason to use burning methods, Prabowo said.
“If you need land, report it to us. We will provide land for you. We will prepare pumps for you,” he said.
Prabowo said the government wanted to improve people’s welfare while preventing activities that could trigger forest and land fires.
“We want our people to prosper. There is no way we want to harm our people,” he said.
Government to Tighten Oversight of Companies
Prabowo also said the government would take action against companies that fail to meet their obligations to prevent and respond to forest and land fires.
He said companies are required to provide facilities including observation towers and water reservoirs, as well as firefighting teams made up of their employees, in accordance with applicable regulations.
Prabowo also asked experts to provide recommendations on the most effective ways to prevent fires in forest areas, particularly peatlands.
He said prevention should begin before fires occur, including by preparing firefighting infrastructure such as water reservoirs and pumps in the field.
“As for physical mitigation, we will do it. Firefighting teams must be ready. Long before a fire occurs, build reservoirs, reservoirs, reservoirs, reservoirs. Before there is a fire, prepare pumps, pumps, pumps. Prepare everything,” Prabowo said.
Read: Prabowo Signals Regulatory Changes to Prevent Forest Fires
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