West Sulawesi BPBD Intensifies Education on Forest and Land Fire Prevention
Mamuju (ANTARA) - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of West Sulawesi Province is intensifying education and public awareness efforts to prevent forest and land fires (karhutla), as the potential for blazes rises during the dry season.
“We continue to strengthen disaster mitigation measures through education, collaboration and active community involvement,” said the Chief Executive of BPBD West Sulawesi, Muhammad Yasir Fattah, in Mamuju on Monday.
Education on the dangers of forest and land fires is carried out through socialisation, the dissemination of disaster information, mitigation campaigns, and coordination with district governments, village administrations, the military and police, the Manggala Agni fire brigade, volunteers and various stakeholders, as part of strengthening collaboration in disaster risk reduction.
Beyond education, BPBD West Sulawesi is also enhancing personnel readiness, monitoring fire-prone areas, and coordinating across sectors to ensure a rapid response should forest and land fires occur.
Yasir Fattah explained that forest and land fires not only cause environmental damage, but also affect public health due to smoke haze, degrade ecosystem quality, and have the potential to trigger economic and social losses.
“Prevention efforts must begin with improving public understanding so that people do not clear land by burning, do not burn rubbish carelessly, and promptly report any fire spots they discover,” said Yasir Fattah.
He invited all residents of West Sulawesi to play an active role in protecting the environment by not burning forests or land in any form, and to report immediately any signs of fire so that it can be handled as early as possible.
“Tackling forest and land fires is not only the government’s responsibility, but our shared responsibility. With sustained education, strong collaboration and the concern of all residents, we can keep West Sulawesi safe and resilient in facing disasters,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, the Regent of Polewali Mandar, H Samsul Mahmud, through Circular Letter Number B-125/300.2.3/BPBD/VII/2026, has called on all residents to heighten their vigilance against the threat of fires during the period from July to September 2026.
All district heads, neighbourhood unit heads and village heads have been asked to educate residents not to clear land by burning, to be careful when burning rubbish, to check electrical installations, to extinguish sources of fire before leaving home, and to avoid actions that could spark a blaze.