Enviro News Asia, Palangka Raya — A teenager named Rudiansyah has drawn attention for joining local residents and firefighters in efforts to tackle forest and land fires in Petuk Ketimpun, Jekan Raya, Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan.
Wearing a Superman costume, Rudiansyah participated in firefighting activities alongside local communities and authorities. His efforts attracted the attention of Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni, who met with the teenager during an inspection of forest and land fire management operations in the area on Wednesday.
Raja Juli praised Rudiansyah as an example of youth participation in environmental protection and conveyed greetings from President Prabowo Subianto.
The minister said community involvement is essential because the government and emergency response agencies cannot tackle forest and land fires alone. Military and police personnel, Manggala Agni firefighters, BNPB, BPBD and local communities have been working together to contain fires across affected areas.
Raja Juli also urged communities and companies to avoid using fire for land clearing, particularly during the current dry conditions.
“Do not play with fire. There should be no more land clearing by burning during this season,” he said, stressing that the prohibition applies to both large corporations and local communities.
The government is continuing an integrated response that includes ground firefighting, water-bombing operations and weather modification efforts when atmospheric conditions allow. BNPB has deployed five water-bombing aircraft to support firefighting operations, with additional resources to be considered if conditions require them.
Limited water availability remains one of the main challenges in firefighting operations. Authorities are therefore seeking to strengthen water sources and other infrastructure to support both early response and extended firefighting activities.
During the visit, Raja Juli also symbolically handed over firefighting equipment to a local Fire Care Community. The assistance included a portable Robin engine, five 1.5-inch fire hoses, a nozzle, 10 pairs of boots, five sets of firefighting clothing, five firefighting masks and 10 pairs of gloves.
The minister said Rudiansyah’s actions represented more than a symbolic gesture. His willingness to participate in firefighting reflected the importance of community participation and resilience in responding to environmental disasters.
Raja Juli also highlighted Indonesia’s tradition of mutual cooperation, or gotong royong, as an important strength in responding to emergencies and protecting communities and ecosystems.
During their conversation, Rudiansyah expressed his ambition to become a forest police officer. Raja Juli welcomed the aspiration and said the ministry would support his education, including the possibility of providing a scholarship.
The government also emphasized that community participation must be accompanied by law enforcement. Anyone proven to have caused forest or environmental damage through illegal burning or other activities will face legal action.
According to information received by the minister from the Central Kalimantan Police chief, 12 suspects have been identified in forest and land fire cases in the province.
Raja Juli stressed that enforcement would be carried out without discrimination, regardless of whether the alleged perpetrators were individuals or large entities.
Rudiansyah’s involvement has become a symbol of how local communities, particularly young people, can contribute to forest fire prevention and response. His story also underscores the importance of combining government resources, professional firefighting capabilities and community resilience to address increasingly challenging fire risks during the dry season. (*)
