Enviro News Asia, Aroba — PT Kesatuan Mas Abadi (KMA), a member of the Indonesian Forestry Entrepreneurs Association (APHI), assisted residents of Yaru Village, Aroba District, in extinguishing forest and land fires along the village access road and on community-owned plantations on Wednesday, October 21.
The operation took place from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Indonesia Time (WIT). During the activity, the company also urged residents to work together to prevent forest and land fires and promptly report any fire approaching residential areas.
Haryoto, Chair of APHI’s Regional Commission for West Papua and Southwest Papua, commended PT KMA for its involvement in helping Yaru residents extinguish the fires.
“We appreciate PT KMA’s efforts to help residents tackle the fires. Cooperation between companies and local communities must continue to be strengthened to support forest and land fire control and protect the village environment,” Haryoto said.
He added that firefighting operations should be accompanied by public education on fire prevention and the importance of promptly reporting potential fire threats around the village.
“Effective communication between communities and companies is essential to ensure that reports of fires can be addressed immediately. Therefore, public awareness and coordination in the field must continue to be strengthened,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hengky, Forest Management Manager at PT KMA, explained that the company had assisted residents in fighting the fires through joint firefighting operations along the entrance to Yaru Village and on community plantations.
“We helped the people of Yaru Village extinguish fires along the village access road and on community-owned plantations. The operation was carried out together with local residents,” Hengky said.
He added that, beyond firefighting, the company encouraged residents to remain vigilant against fires in and around the village, particularly when flames threaten to reach residential areas.
“We urge residents to work together to protect the environment from forest and land fires. If a fire approaches residential areas, please report it immediately so that the situation can be addressed,” he said.
The joint firefighting operation and public awareness activities in Yaru Village form part of broader efforts to strengthen preparedness through collaboration between companies and local communities in controlling forest and land fires, particularly around plantations and residential areas. (*)
