Enviro News Asia, South Kalimantan — The South Kalimantan Regional Commission of the Indonesian Forest Concessionaires Association (APHI) is strengthening the role of companies holding Forest Utilization Business Licenses (PBPH) as strategic partners of the Integrated Task Force in preventing and responding to forest and land fires (karhutla).
APHI South Kalimantan Regional Commission Chairman Andik Suwignyo said forest and land fire control requires collaboration among the government, businesses, security forces, communities and other stakeholders because fires can spread beyond administrative and concession boundaries.
“Fires do not recognize concession boundaries. Therefore, APHI South Kalimantan encourages all members not only to protect their working areas but also to support fire control in surrounding areas in accordance with applicable regulations,” Andik said in Banjarbaru on Friday (August 28, 2026).
Andik said APHI member companies are responsible for protecting their operational areas from fire threats in accordance with environmental management and protection regulations. Monitoring is also extended to buffer zones of around five kilometers beyond concession boundaries to prevent fires from spreading into production forest areas.
“When fires occur outside concessions, companies need to coordinate and provide personnel and equipment support without compromising safety or the command system in the field,” he said.
APHI member companies have deployed Firefighting Teams (RPK) trained to deal with fires in forests, mineral soils and semi-peat areas. Their equipment includes high-pressure water pumps, hoses, manual firefighting tools, and wetting agents or firefighting foam to suppress underground embers.
The companies also monitor hotspots through satellite-based detection systems. When hotspots are detected within or near concession areas, RPK teams conduct immediate field inspections to verify conditions and take action before fires spread.
Meanwhile, PT Hutan Rindang Banua (HRB) Director Nurhadi Purwanto said the company has deployed heavy equipment and supporting facilities to accelerate fire response operations.
“PT HRB has deployed one long-arm excavator, one PC 100 excavator and one truck equipped with a water tank. The equipment has arrived at the location and is ready to support access and firebreak construction, the handling of burning materials, and water supply for firefighting and cooling operations,” Nurhadi said.
HRB is also prepared to support the government and APHI in addressing water shortages in fire-prone areas through the construction of bore wells.
Nurhadi said the bore wells would be developed following surveys and coordination with local governments, the Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH), relevant authorities, village governments and local communities. The coordination is intended to ensure the facilities are built in locations where they are most needed.
“The bore wells are expected to support initial firefighting, land wetting and post-fire cooling, thereby reducing the risk of fires reigniting. This support is also part of the company’s responsibility to protect the environment and communities from the impacts of forest and land fires,” Nurhadi said.
In addition to providing equipment and facilities, the company also supports the strengthening of Fire-Aware Communities (MPA) through training, equipment provision, joint patrols and education on land clearing without burning.
APHI South Kalimantan and its member companies will continue strengthening coordination with the government and the Integrated Task Force. The collaboration is expected to accelerate field responses, protect communities and vital facilities, and establish a more integrated and sustainable forest and land fire control system in South Kalimantan. (*)
