Public Works Ministry deploys water tanker trucks to support Tanjung Selor forest fire response
The Ministry of Public Works, through the North Kalimantan Building, Infrastructure and Regional Planning Office (BPBPK) together with the Tanjung Selor River Basin Office (BWS) Kalimantan V, is supporting the handling of forest and land fires in Selimau 3, East Tanjung Selor Urban Village, Bulungan Regency, North Kalimantan.
Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo said the ministry continues to enhance preparedness for potential forest and land fires and drought during the 2026 dry season through strengthened cross-sector coordination and provision of supporting infrastructure needed on the ground.
“The Ministry of Public Works does not only focus on infrastructure development, but also ensures that infrastructure can be optimally utilised to support disaster management, maintain water availability, protect the environment, and guarantee public safety,” Dody said in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday.
The support is carried out through the Emergency Response Task Force by deploying personnel as well as facilities and infrastructure to assist firefighting efforts and control the spread of fire at the incident site.
In handling the forest and land fires, the North Kalimantan BPBPK deployed five Emergency Response Task Force personnel, while BWS Kalimantan V Tanjung Selor deployed five personnel. In addition, two water tanker trucks with a capacity of 4,000 litres each were placed on standby to support water distribution to the fire location.
Firefighting and fire spread containment efforts are carried out in an integrated and synergistic manner with a joint team consisting of the Bulungan Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency, the North Kalimantan BPBPK together with BWS Kalimantan V Tanjung Selor, the Bulungan Police, and the Forestry Ministry’s Manggala Agni.
Head of the North Kalimantan BPBPK Syafrudin said the support of personnel and water fleets is part of the Public Works Ministry’s rapid response in supporting local government and relevant agencies in facing emergency conditions, particularly in controlling forest and land fires.
“Through the support of available personnel and infrastructure, we are working to help accelerate the firefighting and fire control process, while minimising the impact on the environment and communities around the location,” Syafrudin said.
The Ministry of Public Works continues to encourage cross-sector synergy and coordination in handling disasters and emergency conditions. Support through the provision of facilities and infrastructure is expected to strengthen forest and land fire management efforts and reduce potential follow-on impacts, including smoke disruption to the public.
The Ministry of Public Works, through its technical implementation units in the North Kalimantan region, is committed to remaining ready to support local government and all stakeholders in disaster management, in accordance with its duties and authority, in order to realise resilient infrastructure and protect the public and the environment.