Jakarta (Greeners) – Following recent monitoring from Indonesia’s national disaster management that 288 hot spots spotted last week during holidays, Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya said that the transition season has arrived and be prepared for forest and land fires.
“I have instructed governors, local governments, companies and local environment agencies on the threats of forest and land fires since last June,” she said in Jakarta, on Tuesday (05/07), adding that the ministry had managed to put out fires in Kampar district of Riau, this early July.
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Closed monitoring using NOAA 18 and 19 satellites are still running for Riau and South Sumatra provinces. For any unclear information, the data was sent to ASMC in Singapore. In addition, the ministry, BMKG (Meteorological, Climatology, and Geography Agency), and LAPAN (National Institute of Aeronautics and Space) have installed new hot spot monitoring device.
During holidays, officials and firefighters of Manggala Agni were still working to monitor on forest and land fires. On recent development, there has been reports that fires occurring in Riau and South Sumatra was deliberately set out by men. Local police is currently pursuing a man allegedly burned down lands in Rokan Hilir of Riau and already questioning one man in Bayung Lencir of South Sumatra.
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A fire broke out in 40-hectares of land in Pantai Cermin village of Kampar district from four days ago had been put out by local police and Manggala Agni. Unfortunately, there are still fires in Tesso Nilo National Park where officials have been using water bombing and patrolling with helicopter.
“I am following the development very closely. In South Kalimantan, [officials] also have conducted routine patrol,” she said.
Reports by Danny Kosasih
21 Apr 2024 
