Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Indonesia recorded a sharp decline in high-confidence forest and land fire hotspots, with detections falling to 55 on Nov. 6 from 338 a day earlier. However, the Forestry Ministry said firefighting and patrol operations would continue as fires remained active in several peatland areas.
Data from the ministry’s SiPongi monitoring system showed that hotspots across six priority provinces also dropped from 86 to 14. Jambi recorded nine hotspots and South Sumatra five, while Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and Riau reported none.
The most significant decline occurred in Central Kalimantan, where detections fell from 85 to zero. The ministry cautioned that the absence of satellite-detected hotspots did not necessarily mean fires had been fully extinguished.
Field reports on Nov. 6 showed that firefighting operations were still underway in several locations across Central Kalimantan.
In Tanjung Taruna, Pulang Pisau regency, thick smoke remained visible and further suppression was needed. Fires in Jabiren also remained active in peatland, involving both surface and underground burning.
Firefighting continued in Palangka Raya, along Jalan Tabengan in Kalampangan subdistrict and Jalan Trans Harawung in Habaring Hurung subdistrict. Both locations were affected by peatland fires that had not been fully extinguished.
There were also signs of progress. Joint teams from the Forestry Ministry’s Manggala Agni fire brigade and the regional disaster management agency (BPBD) extinguished a fire in Kuala Pembuang, Seruyan regency.
In the Sei Sekonyer–Tanjung Harapan area of Tanjung Puting National Park, teams completed mop-up operations and patrols, reporting that conditions were safe.
In South Sumatra, a fire in Sungai Pinang village, Banyuasin regency, was brought under control. However, suppression efforts continued in Pulau Geronggang, Talang Rimba and Sungai Bungin in Ogan Komering Ilir regency, where underground peat fires remained a concern.
The ministry stressed that peat fires can persist beneath the surface even when satellites no longer detect hotspots. Teams must therefore continue wetting, searching for remaining embers, conducting mop-up operations, cooling affected areas and patrolling until conditions are confirmed safe.
Meanwhile, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni visited five surviving crew members of an Mi-17V5 helicopter involved in a forest fire suppression incident near Tanjung Puting National Park. The visit took place on Nov. 6 at Dr. R. Soeharsono Level III Army Hospital in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.
The five crew members were reported to be recovering but still required further medical treatment. Some were expected to be transferred to hospitals in Jakarta and Semarang for continued care.
Raja Juli met the crew individually and expressed appreciation for their efforts in the firefighting mission. The ministry said the visit also underscored the importance of personnel safety in both ground and aerial operations.
Manggala Agni teams continue to work alongside the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), military, police, Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), regional authorities, community fire groups, businesses and volunteers.
Their operations include patrols, field verification, firefighting, peatland wetting, ember searches, mop-up work and cooling operations based on conditions on the ground.
The ministry said the decline from 338 to 55 hotspots was encouraging but warned that vigilance must remain high until all fires and embers are extinguished and the risk of renewed burning is contained. (*)
