Central Papua Police Step Up Early Detection to Prevent Forest Fires from Spreading

Central Papua police are urging officers to act before fire hotspots grow, as they accelerate efforts to detect and contain forest and land fires.

Deputy Chief of Central Papua Police Gustav R. Urbinas said integrated patrols and information from local residents would help identify potential fires as early as possible. “Do not wait for the fire to grow before taking action. Prevent it early, detect every potential fire, and act immediately when there is a hotspot,” he said at a police evaluation meeting in Nabire on Wednesday.

The early-warning strategy relies on police community officers, military village officers, fire-aware community groups and reporting systems in areas considered vulnerable to fire. When a hotspot is found, the fire task force is expected to respond quickly alongside the military, the regional disaster management agency and other relevant bodies.

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Do not wait for the fire to grow before taking action. Prevent it early, detect every potential fire, and act immediately when there is a hotspot.

Police are also being instructed to expand public outreach and education. Authorities plan to place warnings against burning forests and land in high-risk areas, while integrated patrols with the military, disaster officials, local governments and community groups will seek to reduce the risk of fires starting.

The evaluation identified several operational obstacles, including difficult access to fire locations, limited water supplies and a lack of firefighting equipment. “Whatever obstacles we face, we must work as hard as possible to deal with forest and land fires,” Gustav said.

Central Papua police have asked national police headquarters for additional equipment to support rapid responses in areas with limited access and firefighting resources. Police said prevention, early detection, suppression and law enforcement against suspected burners must proceed together to limit harm to residents and the environment.

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Whatever obstacles we face, we must work as hard as possible to deal with forest and land fires.