Enviro News Asia, Riau – Firefighting teams from Manggala Agni under the Forest and Land Fire Control Center for Sumatra continue efforts to extinguish forest and land fires (karhutla) in several areas of Riau and the Riau Islands.
Despite fasting during the holy month of Ramadan and working under intense heat, firefighters remain on high alert to prevent the spread of fires and protect surrounding ecosystems.
An additional challenge emerged in Pulau Muda Village, located in Teluk Meranti District, Pelalawan Regency, where a Sumatran tiger has been detected near the firefighting area. The presence of the protected species has required crews to heighten safety precautions while continuing firefighting operations.
Authorities clarified that the tiger’s appearance is not directly related to the fire incidents. Observations indicate that the young tiger has been roaming near settlements and plantation areas for the past three months. The behavior is believed to be part of its natural development after recently separating from its mother and learning to establish its own territory.
Head of the Sumatra Forest and Land Fire Control Center Ferdian emphasized that strict adherence to safety procedures is mandatory for all Manggala Agni personnel in the field.
“To ensure the safety of both the wildlife and our personnel, we have coordinated with the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA Riau). Their officers have been deployed to handle the Sumatran tiger according to conservation procedures,” he said.
Fire suppression operations are currently ongoing in several areas, including Kampar Regency, Bengkalis Regency, Indragiri Hilir Regency, Pelalawan Regency, and Batam.
Satellite image analysis from the Ministry of Forestry of Indonesia covering January–February 2026 shows that forest and land fires in Riau have burned approximately 4,400 hectares, with 94 percent occurring on peatlands. The most affected areas are Pelalawan and Bengkalis regencies.
In anticipation of a potential El Niño event predicted to intensify in the second half of 2026, Manggala Agni is strengthening coordination with relevant agencies to enhance early prevention measures.
The peak of the dry season is expected to occur in July and August, with rainfall predicted to fall below normal levels. Early mitigation efforts are therefore considered crucial to reduce the risk of more severe drought and widespread fires in Sumatra. (*)
