South Kalimantan Enhances Land and Forest Fire Mitigation to Face El Niño
The local governments of 13 districts and cities in South Kalimantan Province have been asked to enhance mitigation against the threat of land and forest fires (karhutla) and drought. This is in line with predictions of a prolonged dry season and the influence of El Niño.
“We have issued a circular regarding the enhancement of readiness for controlling land and forest fires (karhutla) and the threat of drought in the South Kalimantan region,” stated the Head of the South Kalimantan Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD Kalsel), Ronny Eka Saputra, on Sunday (29/3).
He explained that the circular serves as a proactive step to address the threats of drought and karhutla in the region. Several areas in South Kalimantan are prone to karhutla and drought during the dry season.
In the circular numbered 300.2.3/365/BPBD/2026, BPBD Kalsel requests all district/city BPBDs to increase readiness through intensive monitoring of regional conditions, strengthening cross-sector coordination, and ensuring the preparedness of personnel and disaster response equipment.
“This step is a follow-up to the central government’s policy on readiness for controlling karhutla in 2026,” said Ronny.
Currently, several small-scale karhutla cases have begun to emerge in the South Kalimantan region. Regarding the threats of drought and karhutla, the Head of Disaster Handling Division at the South Kalimantan Social Service (Dinsos Kalsel), Achmadi, stated that they have instructed all units to enhance readiness, cross-sector coordination, human resources (HR), and disaster response equipment.
“Entering the dry season predicted to be quite long due to El Niño, we have collaborated with various parties, particularly in handling land and forest fires,” said Achmadi.
Dinsos Kalsel is preparing a karhutla response post centred at the Social Service office in Banjarbaru as the operational control centre. Several areas in South Kalimantan vulnerable to karhutla include Banjar Regency, Banjarbaru City, Tanah Laut, South Hulu Sungai, and Tapin.