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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Environment & Climate

Water Shortages, Strong Winds Hamper Kalimantan Forest Firefighting

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Firefighting efforts in Kalimantan face significant challenges due to dwindling water sources and difficult terrain, with water becoming increasingly distant from hotspots.
  • Strong winds are exacerbating the fires, hindering ground operations and making aerial water-bombing missions difficult for helicopter pilots.
  • Six provinces, including West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan, are prioritized for forest and land fire management as the dry season continues.

Indonesia's battle against forest and land fires in Kalimantan is being severely hampered by a critical shortage of water and challenging environmental conditions. Officials report that available water sources are receding, forcing firefighting teams and water-bombing helicopters to travel greater distances to reach hotspots. This scarcity is particularly acute during the dry season, complicating efforts that rely on water tanks and hydrants.

Field obstacles for ground operations include a lack of access roads to the hotspots, making the terrain difficult to penetrate. Water sources are receding and are becoming further away from the fire sites.

— Berton Suar Pelita PanjaitanActing Head of the BNPB’s Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, describing the challenges faced by firefighters.

Adding to the difficulties, strong winds are fanning the flames, accelerating the spread of fires and creating hazardous conditions. These winds not only make it harder for ground crews to contain the blazes but also pose significant risks to aerial operations. Helicopter pilots struggle with maneuvering and visibility, making water-bombing missions less effective and more dangerous.

Water sources are very limited, given that we are currently in the dry season.

— Berton Suar Pelita PanjaitanExplaining the scarcity of water during the dry season.

The Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has identified six provinces as high priorities for fire management: West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Riau, Jambi, and South Sumatra. The agency is working to deploy more water tanker trucks to bolster ground operations, which remain the primary firefighting method supported by aerial support. The ongoing challenges highlight the complex and persistent nature of forest fires in the region.

Strong winds around the fire spots make helicopter maneuvering difficult, compounded by limited visibility.

— Berton Suar Pelita PanjaitanDetailing how wind conditions impact aerial firefighting operations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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