TNI Deploys 3 Weather Modification Aircraft to Combat Kalimantan Forest Fires

The TNI is supporting the handling of forest and land fires (karhutla) in the Kalimantan region through Weather Modification Operations (OMC).

The support is being carried out by deploying three TNI AU Cassa-212 aircraft to assist in the implementation of OMC in several areas on Friday (21/8).

One Cassa-212 A-2105 aircraft, crewed by 11 personnel, is currently at Dhomber Air Base in Balikpapan to support Weather Modification Operations in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) area.

The two other aircraft, Cassa-212 A-2117 and A-2103, have been prepared to support OMC in the East Kalimantan and South Kalimantan regions. The A-2117, with 10 personnel, will support OMC in the East Kalimantan region, while the A-2103, also with 10 personnel, will serve the South Kalimantan region.

The OMC support is part of the synergy between the TNI, BNPB and BMKG in efforts to handle forest and land fires.

Separately, TNI personnel together with a joint team moved quickly to extinguish a hotspot detected on peatland in Tumbang Nusa Village, Jabiren Raya District, Pulang Pisau Regency, Central Kalimantan.

The firefighting operation was carried out after the 1011/Kuala Kapuas Military District Command (Kodim) received a report of potential fires in the area on Wednesday (19/8).

Commander of Kodim 1011/Kuala Kapuas, Lieutenant Colonel Inf Deky Febrianto, directly led Kodim 1011/KLK personnel together with the Karhutla Task Force Team, Manggala Agni, BPBD, and the Fire Care Community to the location.

Upon arriving at the site, the team used water pumps and manual equipment to extinguish the fire. The effort succeeded in bringing the fire under control so that it did not spread to the surrounding area.

“We in the TNI cannot just sit in the office. As soon as there is a report of a hotspot, we must be at the forefront. This is our shared task to save the forest, the community, and prevent smoke haze,” said Deky.