Joint Team Extinguishes Border Fire in Jambi-South Sumatra; Cooling and Investigation Underway

A joint task force has successfully extinguished a forest and land fire that raged across the border of Indonesia's Jambi and South Sumatra provinces. Firefighters are now engaged in cooling operations to prevent any resurgence of the flames and are simultaneously investigating the incident's origins.

The fire ignited in the Air Merah area of Ladang Panjang Village, Sungai Gelam District, within Muaro Jambi Regency, which shares a border with Musi Banyuasin Regency in South Sumatra. "It has been extinguished and is undergoing cooling operations. It's a border area with Palembang (Musi Banyuasin)," stated Paruhuman Lubis, Head of the Muaro Jambi Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD).

The suppression efforts involved a collaborative team comprising the Jambi Provincial BPBD, Muaro Jambi Regency BPBD, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), Manggala Agni (forest fire control unit), and local community members. The fire reportedly began on Wednesday afternoon, July 15, and was brought under control by Thursday, July 16.

While the exact extent of the burned area remains unconfirmed, Lubis noted that the affected land is mineral-based and situated close to peatland. Despite the fire being out, personnel remain on-site for the cooling process to mitigate the risk of new hotspots. The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

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It has been extinguished and is undergoing cooling operations. It's a border area with Palembang (Musi Banyuasin).