Riau deploys water-bombing helicopters to tackle forest fires at three locations

The Riau Provincial Forest and Land Fire Task Force (Satgas Karhutla) has deployed water-bombing helicopters to extinguish forest fires at three locations in the region.

Riau Disaster Management and Fire Department (BPBD Damkar) Chief M Edy Afrizal said on Friday in Pekanbaru that the fire locations tackled by the helicopter operations were Kandis District (Siak Regency), Kampar District (Kampar Regency), and Rantau Bais (Rokan Hilir Regency).

“For the first fire hotspot in Siak Regency, specifically in Kandis, there are still active flames and smoke. Ground teams and water-bombing helicopters have been deployed to handle the forest fires there,” he said.

The second location is in Kampar, specifically Ranah Singkuang Village, Kampar District. The fire there has been extinguished, with ground teams and water-bombing helicopters having been deployed.

“Efforts to manage forest fires in areas with active flames and smoke will continue until the fires are fully extinguished,” he added.

He stated that over the past two days, 11 hotspots have been reported in Riau Province, including three in Rokan Hulu, three in Siak, one in Kuansing, and four in Pelalawan.

“There are 11 hotspots in Riau, located in Rokan Hulu, Siak, Kuansing, and Pelalawan. However, active fires are present at three locations,” he said.