Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — The Ministry of Forestry has activated Forest and Land Fire (karhutla) control command posts across technical units in West Kalimantan as part of a rapid response to rising hotspot activity and the anticipated extreme El Niño phenomenon expected later this year.
The activation, led by Senior Forestry Police Officer Sustyo Iriyono representing the Directorate General of Forestry Law Enforcement, aims to strengthen early detection systems and accelerate field response. The initiative follows the provincial government’s declaration of an emergency alert status for haze disaster management.
Authorities reported a significant surge in hotspots, with 7,883 detected as of March 31, 2026. Fire suppression teams have successfully extinguished approximately 479.12 hectares of burned land across multiple districts. The largest affected area was recorded in Kubu Raya, followed by Sambas, Ketapang, Mempawah, and Singkawang.
To address the escalating risk, 13 teams comprising 195 Manggala Agni personnel have been deployed to high-risk areas. The command posts will coordinate intensified patrols, real-time hotspot monitoring, integrated reporting systems, and routine equipment readiness checks.
Head of the Kalimantan Forest Fire Control Agency, Yudho S. Mustiko, emphasized that West Kalimantan remains one of Indonesia’s most fire-prone regions, making early intervention and preparedness critical to minimizing environmental and public health impacts.
The ministry also continues to engage local communities through awareness campaigns, urging residents to avoid land clearing by burning and to report any signs of fire. The government expects that these preventive measures will reduce the risk of widespread forest fires, protect public health, and prevent transboundary haze. (*)
