West Kalimantan Regional Police Handle 56 Forest and Land Fire Reports, Five Named Suspects
Bengkayang (ANTARA) - The West Kalimantan Regional Police have handled 5_6 reports related to forest and land fires (karhutla) up to 30 August 2026, with 31 individuals identified as reported parties and five individuals officially named as suspects.
West Kalimantan Regional Police Chief, Inspector General Alberd Teddy Benhard Sianipar, stated in Bengkayang on Monday that the police are also investigating the potential links between eight corporations and the fires occurring within their jurisdiction.
“We have handled 56 incoming reports. So far, 31 people have been identified as reported parties and five as suspects,” said Alberd while inspecting a borehole in Melapis Hamlet, Sungai Duri Village, Sungai Raya District.
Investigators, according to him, are examining the involvement of eight corporations to determine whether the fires are related to direct actions, orders to conduct burning, or negligence that caused the fire to spread.
Alberd stated that law enforcement must be strengthened to prevent fires from expanding further and impacting the community and other regions.
According to him, dry season conditions, difficulty in accessing water sources, strong winds, and the vastness of dry areas can accelerate the spread of fire while making firefighting efforts more difficult.
Consequently, the West Kalimantan Regional Police have urged the public not to clear land through burning during unfavourable weather conditions.
“We cannot yet anticipate when this dry season will end. The secondary impacts include water scarcity, strong winds, and the vastness of dry areas. All of these will cause the burnt areas to expand and become increasingly difficult to extinguish,” he said.
In addition to law enforcement, the West Kalimantan Regional Police are strengthening forest fire response readiness by mapping and providing water sources through the construction of boreholes in several fire-prone areas.
In other regions such as Kubu Raya, Ketapang, and North Kayong, drilling must reach depths of more than 60 metres to access water sources.
Based on trials conducted over several days, the water source in Melapis Hamlet can flow constantly for approximately two to three hours to support firefighting and land wetting efforts.
Alberd stated that handling forest and land fires requires cooperation between the police, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Manggala Agni, Fire Care Communities, local governments, the public, and the private sector.
He also reminded that extinguishing fires on peatland must be followed by thorough cooling and wetting, as embers beneath the surface can reignite the fire.
According to him, uncontrolled forest and land fires can impact health, safety, education, the economy, and community activities, and even have the potential to affect relations with neighbouring countries.