Enviro News Asia, Riau — The Ministry of Forestry has intensified efforts to control forest and land fires (karhutla) in Riau Province by deploying 387 personnel and aerial resources, following directives from Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni. The move comes amid extreme dry weather conditions that have placed the entire province under a high fire risk status.
Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, emphasized that cross-sector collaboration is essential in addressing the crisis and safeguarding environmental quality and public health. He noted that joint operations involving the BNPB, BMKG, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the National Police (POLRI), as well as local communities and private sector actors, are being intensified both on the ground and in the air.
Satellite monitoring data from 1 January to 26 March 2026 recorded 266 hotspots in Riau, accounting for 42.56 percent of the national total. By February 2026, the total burned area in the province had reached 4,440.2 hectares. To date, joint teams have conducted 265 ground firefighting operations across critical locations.
The deployed personnel include core units from Manggala Agni under the Sumatra Forest and Land Fire Control Center, stationed in Pekanbaru, Dumai, Siak, and Rengat. Additional reinforcement has been provided through operational support units from Jambi and North Sumatra.
Head of the Sumatra Fire Control Center, Ferdian Krisnanto, stated that firefighting teams are currently focusing on several critical areas, including Dumai, Siak Kecil Wildlife Reserve, Pelalawan, Indragiri Hulu, and Bengkalis. The primary strategy involves containing the spread of fires, extinguishing active fire fronts, and eliminating major sources of smoke.
Operational challenges persist, particularly due to limited water availability caused by reduced rainfall and declining groundwater levels, especially in peatland areas. To address this, teams are working with local governments and communities to construct water reservoirs, clear canals, and expand firebreaks.
Aerial operations have also been deployed, including one Bell 412-SP helicopter operated by the Ministry and two helicopters from BNPB for patrol, water bombing, and evacuation missions. In addition, the Government is coordinating with BNPB and BMKG to implement Weather Modification Operations (OMC), aiming to induce artificial rainfall to accelerate fire suppression efforts. (*)
