Enviro News Asia, Riau — Kementerian Kehutanan has intensified efforts to control forest and land fires (karhutla) by deploying ground and air resources in Riau Province to anticipate potential fire escalation ahead of Idul Fitri 1447 H. The operation focuses on safeguarding key homecoming routes, particularly along the Riau–North Sumatra corridor.
Director of Forest Fire Control, Thomas Nifinluri, on Monday (16/03/2026) stated that three Manggala Agni teams have been deployed to handle fires in Rantau Bais, Rokan Hilir. The teams consist of backup units from Manggala Agni Daops Sumatera VI/Siak, Sumatera II/Labuhanbatu Selatan, and Sumatera V/Dumai. As of now, conditions have improved, with the Riau–North Sumatra route remaining safe and free from smoke disruption.
In addition to securing the main homecoming route, additional Manggala Agni teams have been mobilized to address fires in Kampar, Bengkalis, Dumai, and Pelalawan. Reinforcements from Manggala Agni Daops Sumatera XI/Bukit Tempurung – Jambi have also been deployed to support operations in Daops Sumatera VII/Rengat.
According to monitoring data from the SiPongi system, which utilizes NASA Terra/Aqua satellite imagery, a total of 49 high-confidence hotspots were detected in Riau between 1 and 15 March 2026. These hotspots were distributed across Pelalawan (42), Indragiri Hilir (2), Dumai (4), and Kampar (1).
“Alongside hotspot detection, Manggala Agni and related agencies have actively carried out fire suppression efforts. From 1 to 15 March 2026, a total of 48 fire control operations were conducted, covering 78.2 hectares across several regions, including Dumai, Bengkalis, Pelalawan, Rokan Hilir, Indragiri Hilir, and Kampar,” Thomas explained.
Beyond ground operations, aerial patrols are being strengthened to improve early detection and accelerate response times. A Bell-type helicopter is currently approaching Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base in Pekanbaru to support aerial surveillance over fire-prone areas in Riau.
Thomas added that aerial patrol operations are scheduled to continue until the end of April, with a total flight time of approximately 65 hours. During this period, the Air Task Force will be stationed at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base as the coordination center for aerial monitoring activities.
He also expressed appreciation to the Indonesian Air Force personnel at the base for their strong cooperation in supporting fire control preparedness. The aerial patrol team consists of personnel from the Ministry of Forestry, BPBD, DLHK, Basarnas, the Indonesian Air Force, and the Riau Provincial Government, working together to strengthen monitoring and early detection of forest and land fires. (*)
