Prabowo Interrupts Meeting with Phone Call to Request Additional Equipment for Forest Fire Response
President Prabowo Subianto briefly communicated by telephone in the middle of a limited meeting on forest and land fire (karhutla) management in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan. During the call, Prabowo requested additional equipment needed for karhutla handling in Central Kalimantan.
The meeting was held at the Air Task Force Post, Tjilik Riwut Airport, Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, on Saturday (22/8/2026). Prabowo initially listened to a report from the Head of the Central Kalimantan Provincial Disaster Management and Fire Department (BPBPK), Ahmad Toyib, who stated that from 1 January to 22 August 2026, 19,992 hotspots were recorded in the Central Kalimantan region.
During the same period, 1,639 karhutla incidents were reported, with a total land area of 4,499.21 hectares having been handled.
“This data is based on daily reports from 14 regencies/cities across Central Kalimantan, which we compile every day at the Central Kalimantan Provincial Karhutla Task Force Operations Control Centre,” said Ahmad Toyib.
Meanwhile, based on satellite analysis by the Ministry of Forestry, the area of karhutla in Central Kalimantan was recorded at 7,634.46 hectares, placing it ninth nationally. Thirteen regencies/cities in Central Kalimantan have also declared an emergency alert status for karhutla disasters.
To strengthen field operations, the Central Kalimantan Provincial Karhutla Task Force has deployed approximately 10,700 personnel. They come from various elements, including the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Forestry Service, fire brigades, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), Manggala Agni, Fire Care Communities, and various other community resources.
Ahmad Toyib also expressed appreciation for the attention and support of the central government in handling karhutla in Central Kalimantan. This support, he said, has been provided through direct supervision by several ministries and agencies, as well as assistance with facilities and infrastructure for firefighting operations.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to the President, who through technical ministries has also provided supervision of karhutla management to Central Kalimantan Province, namely through visits by the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, the Minister of Forestry, and the Deputy Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, who have provided supervision and direction to us in the implementation of karhutla management to this day,” he said.
During the meeting, Prabowo also directly explored additional needs on the ground. When asked about water bombing helicopter support, Ahmad Toyib said that four units were already operating and that additional aircraft were still needed to improve firefighting effectiveness.
“We request permission for an additional two to three units, Mr President,” said Ahmad Toyib.
Prabowo also asked about the need for water pumps to strengthen ground firefighting operations. In response to Prabowo’s question, Ahmad Toyib said Central Kalimantan still needed a fairly large additional number of around 100 to 200 units.
Prabowo then immediately took steps to follow up, including by making a phone call in the middle of the meeting. This move demonstrated Prabowo’s attention to ensuring that personnel and equipment needs on the ground could be met promptly to accelerate karhutla control.
During the meeting, Prabowo also connected via video conference with the South Kalimantan Provincial Government. Through this connection, Prabowo received a direct report from the Governor of South Kalimantan together with the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) regarding the development of the situation and efforts to handle karhutla in the South Kalimantan region.