Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — The Indonesian Government has accelerated integrated forest and land fire control operations, with a focus on high-risk areas in Sumatra and Kalimantan. The effort aims to ensure faster and more precise response at the field level, contain affected areas, and protect communities from the health and safety impacts of wildfire smoke.
The government has mobilized 12,880 joint personnel involving the Ministry of Forestry’s Manggala Agni, the Indonesian Military, National Police, National Disaster Management Agency, regional disaster management agencies, local governments, Fire Care Communities, businesses, and volunteers.
Personnel and firefighting equipment are being deployed dynamically based on wind direction, weather conditions, peatland characteristics, site accessibility, and potential impacts on public facilities and residential areas. Field operations include integrated patrols, initial and advanced firefighting, firebreak construction, mopping-up activities, and monitoring of areas following suppression efforts.
Ground operations are being supported by aerial measures, including Weather Modification Operations based on cloud availability and analysis from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency. Patrol aircraft and water-bombing operations are also being prepared to reach areas that are difficult to access from the ground and prevent fires from escalating.
The government is also strengthening monitoring of smoke movement and air quality through cross-agency coordination. Information on air quality, aviation visibility, health service preparedness, and adjustments to educational activities is being updated regularly to protect the public.
Residents, particularly vulnerable groups such as children, older people, pregnant women, and individuals with respiratory problems, are advised to reduce outdoor activities when air quality deteriorates, use appropriate masks, maintain adequate fluid intake, and follow official guidance from relevant authorities.
The Ministry of Forestry has emphasized that prevention remains a key component of wildfire control. Communities and businesses are urged not to clear or prepare land by burning. Any suspected violations will be subject to law enforcement measures in accordance with applicable regulations.
The firefighting operation is coordinated through the Ministry of Forestry’s integrated SiPongi forest and land fire monitoring system, which uses Terra-Aqua satellite imagery from NASA. Monitoring through August 21, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. local time showed that hotspot indications continued to fluctuate amid dry-season conditions, requiring continued vigilance and rapid field response.
The government clarified that satellite-detected hotspots represent initial indications of surface temperature anomalies and do not necessarily indicate the number of active fires burning simultaneously. Each satellite indication is followed by ground verification by field officers to determine the actual situation.
Six provinces remain under particular government attention because of their high wildfire risk: Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan. Integrated monitoring covers several areas experiencing daily fluctuations, including Ketapang, Sanggau and Sintang in West Kalimantan; East Kotawaringin, Kapuas and Palangka Raya in Central Kalimantan; Tapin, Banjar and South Hulu Sungai in South Kalimantan; as well as parts of Riau, Jambi and South Sumatra.
The government said wildfire management will continue to be conducted transparently, measurably and through coordinated efforts. Real-time hotspot information is available to the public through the Ministry of Forestry’s SiPongi monitoring system, while reports of fires or potential incidents can be submitted to the nearest wildfire control post, regional disaster management agency or local authorities. (*)
