Difficult Terrain Hinders Control of Forest Fires in Kapuas, Indonesia

Forest and land fires are persisting in the interior of Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, with new hotspots in Katunjung Village proving difficult to control. Thick smoke billows from the fires, severely limiting visibility for the firefighting teams and complicating their efforts. The primary challenges are not just the flames but also the arduous terrain, which forces teams to use boats to navigate rivers to reach the fire sites. Access is further hampered by fluctuating river water levels, requiring teams to race against time before the water recedes. Limited communication networks also hinder coordination from the remote locations. Pangeran S. Pandiangan, head of the Kapuas Regency Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), stated that the fire at the second coordinate in Katunjung remains uncontrolled, with the flames spreading and generating dense smoke. He emphasized that the lack of communication signals, reduced visibility, and reliance on boat access dependent on tide levels are the main obstacles. Nine personnel, including members from the Kapuas Kahayan Forest Management Unit and the Fire Care Community, are working to contain the blaze.

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The flames at the spot located at coordinates -2.2314428, 114.35173405 are producing thick smoke. This makes the visibility for the firefighting team increasingly limited and complicates efforts to control the fire.