Forest Fires Continue

Firefighting task forces across Sumatra and Kalimantan are intensifying their efforts amid the spread of forest and peatland fires in the regions. More water bombers have been deployed for aerial firefighting, while joint teams have received more personnel to intensify land-based efforts.

KOMPAS/RHAMA PURNA JATI

A firefighter monitors hotspots from the MI 172-VN 8427 helicopter in Cinta Jaya village, Pedamaran district, Ogan Komering Ilir regency, South Sumatra, Thursday (19/7/2018). Four helicopters have been deployed to extinguish peatland and forest fires and patrol a number of areas prone to fires in southern Sumatra. The taskforce to tackle forest and peatland fires in South Sumatra has declared a “high alert” status in the affected areas, which will be in place from July 20 to Sept. 5.

OGAN KOMERING ILIR, KOMPAS – Firefighting task forces across Sumatra and Kalimantan are intensifying their efforts amid the spread of forest and peatland fires in the regions. More water bombers have been deployed for aerial firefighting, while joint teams have received more personnel to intensify land-based firefighting efforts.

All of this is to ensure that the 2018 Asian Games that will be co-hosted by Palembang, South Sumatra, will be smog-free. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicted that this year’s dry season would be more arid than those in the past two years. However, it will still be less arid than 2015, when thick smog shrouded South Sumatra and its surrounding area for days.

“In one day, one helicopter can fly twice for patrols and water-bombing. Currently, we have four helicopters ready,” Palembang’s Sri Mulyono Herlambang Air Force Base commander Col. Heri Sutrisno said in Palembang on Thursday, July 19.

In the next two days, six helicopters will de deployed to intensify patrols and water-bombing. Some 600 personnel will also be deployed in joint teams for land-based operations.

On Thursday at 1 p.m., Kompas joined an aerial firefighting mission in Cinta Jaya village, Pedamaran district, Ogan Komering Ilir. The mission used a MI 172-VN8427 helicopter belonging to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). The helicopter flew out from the Sri Mulyono Herlambang Air Force Base. After 20 minutes in the air, several thick smoke columns were seen.

KOMPAS/RHAMA PURNA JATI

Fires rage in Cinta Jaya village, Pedamaran district, Ogan Komering Ilir regency, South Sumatera, Thursday (19/7/2018).

Down below, fire spread across peatland and induced thick columns of white smoke. The helicopter’s doors were kept open to make monitoring easier, meaning all crewmembers were exposed to the smoke.

The helicopter descended from an altitude of around 300 meters to merely 40 meters for the firefighting mission. With a water capacity of four tons, the helicopter deployed 47 water bombs in a period of 3.5 hours.

Operational hurdles

South Sumatra Forest and Peatland Fires Mitigation Task Force (South Sumatra karthutla) commander Col. (Inf.) Iman Budiman said the task force would continue its efforts to eradicate hotspots by combining aerial and land-based operations.

Currently, four helicopters have been prepared, including one belonging to a private company. Ideally, there should be 10 helicopters.

The availability of equipment is another hurdle, especially for night operations. Another hurdle is poor public awareness, as many still use fire to clear land. “With limited personnel, we cannot possibly monitor everyone,” Iman said.

KOMPAS/RHAMA PURNA JATI

Fires rage in Cinta Jaya village, Pedamaran district, Ogan Komering Ilir regency, South Sumatera, Thursday (19/7/2018). Four helicopters have been deployed to extinguish peatland and forest fires and patrol a number of areas prone to fire in southern Sumatra.

Separately, South Sumatra Police chief Insp. Gen. Zulkarnain Adinegara said the police would act firmly against all forest arsonists. “Shoot on sight against those who deliberately set forests on fire,” he said.

In Pekanbaru, Riau, forest fires are also persisting. Riau karthutla task force data shows that 2,200 hectares of forest in Riau was burned between January and July 18. Between July 16 and 18 alone, 200 hectares of forest was burned. “Today, 30 military personnel will join a firefighting team in Dumai. We will see how things go and we will add more personnel if necessary,” Riau Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Edwar Sanger said.

On Thursday, four BNPB helicopters were involved in a water-bombing operation in Lubuk Gaung. On Wednesday, two helicopters dropped 1.3 million liters of water on the local forest.

Kompas’ Ichwan Susanto reported from Rome, Italy, that the Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said on the sidelines of the 24^th Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO) that she was optimistic that forest and peatland fires would be resolved soon as the government had a forest fire control system in place.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar.

She said she had received reports that the number of hotspots in Sumatra and Kalimantan had increased from 600 to 800.

The government has prepared eight helicopters in Riau, four helicopters in South Sumatra, three helicopters in West Kalimantan and two helicopters in Central Kalimantan. The helicopters belong to the Environment and Forestry Ministry, the BNPB, the Air Force and private companies.

Patrols have been prepared in villages around Palembang. Some 288 posts have been established and can reach 816 local villages. The posts have been established in South Sumatra and Jambi.

(RAM/SAH/JUM/IDO/ESA)