Serang Police Chief Orders Integrated Patrols to Anticipate Forest and Land Fires

Serang Police Chief AKBP Andri Kurniawan has instructed his personnel to anticipate forest and land fires in the region. He stated that the police must cooperate with other agencies to update maps of fire-prone areas. The Police Chief, together with Serang Regent Ratu Rachmatuzakiyah, held a preparedness assembly on Wednesday (5/8/2026). The assembly was attended by key officials of the Serang Police, police precinct chiefs, elements of the Serang Regency Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), heads of regional apparatus organisations (OPD), as well as personnel from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), National Police (Polri), Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Fire Department, National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), Health Department, Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), Senkom, and various other relevant elements. The Police Chief called on all parties to work together to anticipate forest and land fires. “Police precinct chiefs, together with TNI elements, sub-district governments, village governments, and related agencies, must immediately check equipment, update maps of vulnerable areas, record water sources, and prepare contingency plans,” said Andri on Wednesday (5/8/2026). Andri also requested his personnel to conduct patrols and fire handling simulations. He asked for readiness reports from the police precinct chiefs. “Carry out integrated patrols, hold fire handling simulations, and submit readiness reports in your respective areas,” he said. Andri noted that according to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), most of Indonesia is predicted to experience low rainfall during the dry season. This condition could potentially cause drought, clean water crises, crop failures, health problems, and increase the risk of forest, land, industrial, and residential fires. “Although Banten Province is not among the areas with the highest levels of forest and land fires, we must not be complacent. Serang Regency has diverse regional characteristics, so all elements must increase vigilance and preparedness,” said Andri. Meanwhile, Serang Regent Ratu Rachmatuzakiyah appreciated the Serang Police’s initiative in holding the preparedness assembly as a form of cross-sectoral synergy to face potential disasters during the dry season. “Preparedness is the main key to minimising risks, reducing losses, and protecting public safety,” said Zakiyah.