TNI's Alfa Team deployed to extinguish forest and land fires in Way Kambas
The team is supported by personnel capable of freefall parachuting to penetrate isolated or hard-to-reach areas.
Bandarlampung (ANTARA) - The elite TNI unit, Tim Alfa, has been deployed to Way Kambas National Park to extinguish forest and land fires (karhutla) that have left 79 hotspots in Lampung Province.
The deployment was carried out following the instruction of President Prabowo Subianto to accelerate handling and protect the habitat of the Sumatran elephant.
Commander of Kodam XXI/Radin Inten, Major General TNI Kristomei Sianturi, in Bandarlampung on Monday, said Tim Alfa has high mobility capabilities and freefall parachuting personnel to reach isolated areas.
“The TNI has placed Tim Alfa on standby, a small unit formed to carry out tactical missions in difficult terrain during disaster management,” he said.
Meanwhile, in an online coordination meeting, President Prabowo assessed that two water bombing helicopters from Palembang and East Java were insufficient. He decided to add aerial assets and double the ground equipment assistance.
When Lampung Governor Rahmat Mirzani Djausal reported the need for 10 water pump units, the President immediately increased it to 20 units.
“How many do you need?” Prabowo asked. “10, Mr President,” Mirza replied.
Kristomei appreciated the swift action. “We, on behalf of the people of Lampung, express our deepest gratitude to the President for the attention and assistance given to Lampung Province,” he said.
Priority to protect elephant habitat
Firefighting is focused on Way Kambas National Park because it is the habitat of the Sumatran elephant. Officers are monitoring 11 groups of wild elephants, with the nearest group 27 kilometres from the fire location. Elephants at the Elephant Conservation Centre, which is 8 kilometres away, have been declared safe.
“For the survival of the Sumatran elephant habitat as well as the safety of settlements, plantations, and agricultural land belonging to residents, we have received other supporting equipment assistance,” said Kristomei.
The forest and land fires in this area are dominated by alang-alang grass with embers that persist underground even after surface flames are extinguished.
The government has placed a joint command post on standby at the borders of dozens of villages adjacent to the national park. The President has asked the Forkopimda, TNI, and Polri to remain vigilant.