Indonesia Deploys 12,880 Personnel to Fight Forest Fires in Kalimantan, Sumatra

Indonesia is intensifying its efforts to control forest and land fires across Kalimantan and Sumatra, deploying a substantial force of 12,880 personnel. The Ministry of Forestry confirmed that these integrated operations aim for faster, more precise ground-level handling to contain affected areas and protect public health and community activities from smoke.

The joint personnel include the Ministry’s Manggala Agni brigade, the military, police, national and regional disaster management agencies, local governments, fire-concerned communities, businesses, and volunteers. Their deployment and equipment are managed dynamically, considering wind patterns, weather, peat ecosystems, accessibility, and potential impacts on communities.

Tactics involve integrated patrols, firefighting, creating firebreaks, cooling areas, and post-extinguishment monitoring. Air support through weather modification operations and aerial firefighting is crucial, especially for inaccessible landscapes. The government is also intensifying smoke and air quality monitoring through inter-agency coordination, providing regular updates on air quality indices, visibility, and healthcare preparedness.

The Ministry stresses the importance of preventive measures, urging the public and businesses to avoid land clearing by burning. All operations are coordinated via the Ministry's integrated monitoring system, SiPongi, which uses satellite imagery. Six priority provinces, Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan, are receiving special attention and strict oversight.

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As a rapid response in the field, the government is mobilizing a full force of 12,880 joint personnel, comprising the Ministry’s Manggala Agni brigade, the military (TNI), the police (Polri), the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Regional Disaster Management Agencies (BPBD), local governments, Fire-Concerned Communities (MPA), business entities, and volunteers.