Regions Strengthen Preparedness to Face Forest and Land Fires
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Several regional governments are beginning to increase their preparedness to face the potential for forest and land fires (karhutla) as the 2026 dry season arrives, which is expected to start earlier and last longer. These steps are being taken through strengthening facilities and infrastructure, cross-sector coordination, and public education.
The Kapuas Regency Government in Central Kalimantan is one of the regions strengthening prevention efforts. Kapuas Regent Muhammad Wiyatno emphasised the local government’s commitment to following up on central government directives to protect the environment and communities from the impacts of karhutla.
Various strategic measures are being implemented, ranging from routine patrols in vulnerable areas, strengthening early detection systems, to providing firefighting equipment. The government is also continuing to promote socialisation to the public to avoid opening land by burning, which is one of the main causes of karhutla.
As part of this strengthening, the Kapuas Regency Government received firefighting equipment assistance from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, including pumps, hoses, and safety equipment for personnel. This assistance is expected to improve rapid response in the field.
Similar efforts are being carried out in Riau Province. The local government there received an additional water-bombing helicopter unit from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), bringing the total air fleet for karhutla handling to four units.
In addition to aerial support, weather modification operations (OMC) are also continuing to induce artificial rain, particularly in coastal areas prone to fires. Currently, handling is focused on Bengkalis Regency, with cooling efforts in several affected villages.
In South Sumatra, the Ogan Komering Ilir Regency Government (OKI) is also strengthening preparedness through assistance for facilities and infrastructure worth Rp1.55 billion. The equipment includes pumps, hoses, and other firefighting gear that will soon be distributed to vulnerable areas.
OKI Deputy Regent Supriyanto emphasised that this assistance is important for accelerating initial response in the field, while also strengthening prevention measures to minimise karhutla incidents as much as possible.
Meanwhile, Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq warned that the drought potential in 2026 is expected to be more extreme than in previous years. This condition increases the risk of forest and land fires in various regions.
He stressed the importance of cross-sector synergy in controlling karhutla, from local governments, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), to BNPB. According to him, the success of handling depends heavily on collaboration among various parties, including active community involvement.
Data from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry shows that the area of karhutla from January to February 2026 reached more than 32,000 hectares, and continues to increase in March, with the most affected areas including Riau and West Kalimantan.
Given this situation, prevention efforts are the main key. The government hopes that collective public awareness to avoid burning land can continue to be increased, so that karhutla risks can be suppressed before they spread and cause greater impacts.