Water-Bombing Helicopter Drops 69,000 Liters on West Papua Fires
BNPB deployed a water-bombing helicopter to fight forest fires in West Papua, conducting 69 aerial drops and releasing 69,000 liters of water.
The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) of Indonesia has intensified its response to forest and land fires in Teluk Bintuni Regency, West Papua, by deploying a water-bombing helicopter. This specialized aircraft completed 69 aerial drops across the affected regions, delivering a total of 69,000 liters of water. On Friday, August 28, 2026, the helicopter performed two sorties: the first in Cluster 3, releasing 26,000 liters over four hectares, and the second in Cluster 1, discharging 28,000 liters over three hectares.
Despite the fires being extinguished, residual heat remains, necessitating ongoing monitoring to prevent rekindling.
BNPB spokesperson Berton SP Panjaitan stated that while the current active flames have been suppressed, vigilant observation is crucial to avoid re-ignition. Fire management strategies in West Papua are adapted to the unique local conditions and geography. Additional fire incidents have been reported in Fakfak Regency, South Manokwari, and the Arfak Mountains, with satellite imagery from NASA's Terra, Aqua, SNPP, and NOAA-20 systems identifying 36 active hotspots across the province, four of which were deemed highly reliable.
The Ministry of Forestry's SIPONGI monitoring platform reported that the burned area in West Papua has expanded to approximately 2,500 hectares as of Thursday, August 27, 2026.
The BNPB and the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) are conducting joint monitoring efforts to safeguard local communities and prevent further fire spread.
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