West Kalimantan Hotspots Drop, But Minister Warns Smoke Remains

West Kalimantan has seen a reduction in forest and land fire hotspots to 28, according to the Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni. The majority of these hotspots are concentrated in Ketapang and Melawi districts, with a few in Kubu Raya. However, the minister cautioned that this decrease does not signal an end to the threat of fires and smoke.

Antoni explained that peatland characteristics contribute to incomplete burning, which generates more smoke compared to fires on mineral land. Even when visible flames are absent, smoke can still be present. This was observed during a site visit to Rasau Jaya Satu in Kubu Raya.

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For the West Kalimantan region, there are 28 hotspots. The most are in Ketapang with 16, then Melawi with 11, and one in Kubu Raya.

The Minister was accompanied by the Governor of West Kalimantan, Ria Norsan, and officials from the TNI, Polri, BMKG, BNPB, and the Ministry of Forestry's Manggala Agni, along with community members involved in fire prevention. Data from the Forest and Land Fire Control Information System (Sipongi) as of August 23, 2026, confirmed the 28 hotspots across the province.

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Having no hotspots does not mean it is safe from smoke. Because this is peatland. The burning is incomplete, so the smoke is more than on mineral land.