BNPB: 5.3 Hectares Burned in Banjar Wildfire; Joint Teams Continue Firefighting Efforts

A joint team is intensifying efforts to combat a wildfire in Banjar, South Kalimantan, Indonesia, which has scorched approximately 5.3 hectares of open land. The incident, which began simultaneously in two villages on Saturday, June 20, is being managed by the Banjar Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and various emergency response units.

According to Abdul Muhari, Head of BNPB's Data, Information, and Communication Center for Disasters, the fire spread across vegetation in two sub-districts. Specifically, two hectares were affected in Desa Simpang Lima, Kecamatan Cintapuri Darussalam, and 3.3 hectares in Desa Pesayangan, Kecamatan Martapura.

Progress has been made in controlling the blaze. The fire in Desa Simpang Lima has been fully contained and extinguished by the personnel. However, firefighting operations are still ongoing and focused on the affected area in Desa Pesayangan. "The fire points in Desa Simpang Lima have been successfully extinguished. However, the land in the Desa Pesayangan area is still in the process of being extinguished," Muhari stated.

In response to the increasing potential for wildfires with the onset of the dry season, BNPB is issuing a strong appeal to regional authorities and the public in South Kalimantan. They are urged to enhance emergency surveillance and increase ground patrols to prevent the spread of fires. BNPB specifically advises against any land-clearing activities that involve burning, as this practice poses a significant risk of triggering larger, uncontrollable fires.