JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The government is preparing all available resources, including fire extinguishers, to stop forest and bush fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Various government agencies will also work together to cope with the fires.
The statement was made by Coordinating Political, Legal & Security Affairs Minister Wiranto during a coordinating meeting on Thursday. Based on data from the Environment and Forestry Ministry, the number of hotspots escalated during the June-July 2017 period in West Kalimantan, Jambi and Riau.
"There are reports of hotspots from areas that did not have forest and bush fires last year such as Aceh, NTT and West Kalimantan. We are serious about addressing this issue," Wiranto said.
He added that last year, forest and bush fires were not too big due to wet conditions resulting from the La Nina weather phenomenon.The fires, which mostly occurred in locations that had suffered a longer drought, were also caused by burning forests to clear land for farming.
"It\'s a matter of changing the people\'s behavior. Not only by counseling, but also by assistance, such by giving liquid fertilizer to traditional communities," said Wiranto. In dealing with companies allegedly involved in causing forest and bush fires, he said, the government would use law enforcement.
Expanding
Forest and bush fires are presently spreading in Jambi. Although the local government continues to disseminate regulation banning the use of the slash-and-burn method in clearing farmland, the practice has continued. On Thursday, more fires occurred in peatlands in Muaro Jambi and Tanjung Jabung Timur.
The spread of the hotspots was seen through aerial monitoring carried out by Kompas and the Jambi Disaster Management Agency team from a Bolkow 105 helicopter. The burned locations were found in the transmigration areas of Muaro Jambi, near palm plantations, and in brush areas being cleared for farming.
The most widespread fires were seen in the peatlands of Sadu, East Tanjung Jabung regency, burning more than 10 hectares. Efforts to extinguish the fires are being carried out by local task force on land.
Two helicopters of the Bell and Kamov types, also dropped water bombs from morning to evening on the sources of fire. However, these efforts were unable to control the fire. The arid conditions and high winds continued to spread the fires.
"For the time being, all our helicopters are focusing on putting out fires in peatlands until they are completely under control," said Hamdan, deputy commander of the Bush and Forest Fire Prevention and Control Unit of Jambi province.
Peatland fires were also burning in Pangkalan Lampam district, Ogan Komering Ilir regency, South Sumatra. Peatland fires, affecting an area of approximately 30 hectares, is also thought to be caused by the local people’s use of the slash-and-burn land clearing method. Three helicopters were able to extinguish the fire, but it could reappear again at any time.
Agung Sentosa, the section head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Observation Office of Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II airport in Palembang, said that South Sumatra would enter the peak of the dry season in August-September. During this period, the average daily rainfall is about 10 millimeters per day.As a result, the area tends to be drier and more susceptible to fires.
After the coordination meeting, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said two additional helicopters from the National Disaster Management Agency were being deployed to help stop the forest fires in several parts of Sumatra and West Kalimanan.