Enviro News Asia, Kubu Raya — Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry has intensified efforts to control forest and land fires in West Kalimantan by strengthening ground operations, aerial support and coordination among government agencies, security forces and local communities.
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni led a coordination meeting on forest and land fire control at the Manggala Agni Operations Base in Kubu Raya on Monday after inspecting fire-affected areas in Rasau Jaya. The meeting was held as part of the government’s follow-up to President Prabowo Subianto’s direction to strengthen the national response to forest and land fires.
According to data from the Ministry of Forestry’s SiPongi monitoring system, West Kalimantan recorded 28 hotspots as of 11:59 p.m. local time on August 23. However, the ministry warned that a decline in hotspot numbers does not necessarily mean that the fire situation has been resolved.
During the field inspection, authorities found that smoke was still emerging from peatland areas even after visible flames had disappeared, indicating that fires could continue beneath the surface.
Raja Juli urged all parties to remain vigilant and prohibited land clearing through burning, including by farmers, private companies and corporations. He said smoke and fire-affected areas must continue to be addressed through ground operations and water bombing, alongside preventive measures and greater community participation.
To strengthen operations, the Ministry of Forestry plans to deploy 5,000 civil servants to support Manggala Agni and joint firefighting teams in six priority provinces. Around 2,200 personnel will be assigned across Kalimantan, including approximately 700 additional personnel for West Kalimantan from forest police units and ministry technical offices in other regions.
Aerial operations will also be strengthened through weather modification efforts. The ministry is coordinating with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) to maximize opportunities for cloud formation and rainfall.
BMKG representative Erika said West Kalimantan remained generally dry. Ketapang Regency had experienced approximately 54 consecutive days without rain, while Kubu Raya had recorded around 42 days without rainfall.
Weather modification operations conducted from August 22 to 27 had generated rainfall in several areas and contributed to a decline in hotspots. However, BMKG projected that weather conditions could become significantly drier again after August 27.
West Kalimantan Governor also reported that approximately 4,138 personnel had been deployed to respond to forest and land fires across the province. Additional personnel and equipment were being mobilized, while air quality conditions had begun to improve compared with previous days.
The provincial police have also intensified preventive measures and law enforcement. These efforts include community fire-response villages, monitoring posts, door-to-door public outreach, drone surveillance and the use of command centers.
Authorities reported that the West Kalimantan Police and its regional units had processed 22 cases related to forest and land fires as of the previous evening. Law enforcement measures are being carried out alongside firefighting, patrols, cooling operations and public awareness campaigns.
The Ministry of Forestry emphasized that community participation remains essential to preventing and controlling forest and land fires. Authorities are particularly urging communities and businesses to avoid using fire for land clearing.
Raja Juli also called for stronger institutional coordination, urging central and regional governments and agencies to overcome sectoral interests and prioritize effective communication and joint action.
The coordination meeting brought together the West Kalimantan governor, provincial police chief, military representatives, the provincial disaster management agency, environmental and forestry officials, BNPB, BMKG, Manggala Agni, local governments and other relevant institutions.
The meeting followed the minister’s field inspection in Rasau Jaya Tiga Village, Kubu Raya, where he reviewed firefighting operations conducted by Manggala Agni and other agencies. (*)
