Indonesia Expands Wildfire Response Beyond Six Priority Provinces
Indonesia expands wildfire response beyond six priority provinces as hotspot activity rises and haze risks increase across several regions.
The Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) is intensifying its wildfire response, extending operations beyond the initial six provinces.Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and Central Kalimantan have been identified as priority areas for managing forest and land fires.In an online briefing, BNPB spokesman Berton SP Panjaitan revealed the agency's proactive approach, citing BMKG's predictions of severe haze.
He emphasized the rise in hotspot activity and smoke intensity in various regions, urging heightened vigilance among citizens.Berton disclosed that firefighting teams are now mobilizing in previously untargeted zones, including Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park and Mount Butak in East Java. Water-bombing helicopters have been deployed to combat the flames.Additionally, joint firefighting efforts are underway in North Maluku, Central Java, North Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi, Lampung, and Southeast Sulawesi.Proper logistics supply and improved field data management are critical to the BNPB's strategy.
Authorities are accelerating the distribution of firefighting equipment and refining forest fire data documentation, distinguishing satellite-detected hotspots from actual fire locations.The central government stresses adherence to Presidential Instruction No. 11/2026, which calls for stricter punishment against land clearance by burning, aiming for environmental sustainability.
The BNPB continuously advises residents to employ masks while outdoors to safeguard their respiratory health, emphasizing collective responsibility and public awareness in mitigating the fires' spread.
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