Enviro News Asia, Kubu Raya — Personnel of Manggala Agni remain on high alert to combat forest and land fires during the holy month of Ramadan. Since late February, the fire brigade under the Forest and Land Fire Control Center for Kalimantan has been intensively working to extinguish fires at five locations in Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan.
According to Sahat Irawan Manik, Head of Region II Pontianak at the fire control center, field personnel have been working tirelessly from morning until night to protect nearby residential areas from the spread of flames.
“Fire suppression efforts are carried out from morning until evening, particularly in areas close to residential settlements. Currently, two locations in Rasau Jaya Tiga Village and Rasau Jaya Umum Village have entered the mopping-up stage to ensure no remaining embers are left in the peatland. The situation is under control and will soon be declared fully extinguished,” Sahat said in Pontianak on Friday (6 March 2026).
The five fire points are spread across three areas: Rasau Jaya Tiga Village (one point), Rasau Jaya Umum Village (two points), and Limbung Village in Sungai Raya District (two points). Kubu Raya Regency has become a priority for fire suppression efforts due to increasing hotspots and declining rainfall during the dry season.
In addition to extinguishing fires, Manggala Agni teams have intensified preventive patrols to detect potential fires early in vulnerable areas.
“These patrols aim to detect field conditions early, strengthen coordination, and check water sources and fuel conditions in forest areas. Through rapid response and collaboration with various stakeholders, we are committed to completing fire suppression and preventing further outbreaks to maintain air quality in West Kalimantan,” Sahat added.
Based on daily monitoring from the Forest Fire Danger Rating System issued by the BMKG, fire risk levels in West Kalimantan are showing an increasing trend. In response, Manggala Agni teams continue to move swiftly to fire coordinates to conduct early suppression before the flames spread across difficult-to-control peatland areas.
The Ministry of Forestry has also urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid land clearing by burning, as dry weather and strong winds can accelerate the spread of fires. (*)
