Banjarbaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry said efforts to control forest and land fires in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, must be accompanied by post-fire reviews to strengthen prevention and prevent recurring fires.
Forestry Minister’s Special Adviser for Law Enforcement Inspector General K. Rahmadi said in Banjarbaru on Friday that lessons from previous firefighting efforts should inform future fire management, particularly as forest and land fires have become a national concern.
“Interagency collaboration is key to containing fires and strengthening mitigation efforts. All relevant parties must improve coordination and carry out their respective roles jointly based on conditions and needs in the field,” he said.
Beyond post-fire reviews, authorities also need to develop measures and innovations to improve firefighting methods and strengthen efforts to prevent future forest and land fires, he said.
The Forestry Ministry also provided firefighting assistance to the Batara and Kerabat Fire Awareness Community groups, along with health supplements for Manggala Agni firefighters deployed to tackle the fires.
South Kalimantan Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) Preparedness Subdivision Head Ariansyah said companies would provide firefighting support for 30 days, with the mining, plantation, and forestry sectors each covering 10 days.
He said the disaster agency was technically prepared to conduct weather modification operations, but cloud conditions remained unsuitable. Support from companies was already underway, including HRB’s deployment of firefighting teams to Pengayuan and Liang Anggang in Banjarbaru.
Meanwhile, from the forestry sector, South Kalimantan Forestry Agency Conservation Division Head Rudiono Herlambang said his team continued fighting the fires through forest and land fire brigades, forest security contractors, and forestry police.
Forestry personnel were also fighting fires in the Liang Anggang Protected Forest. The airport’s Ring 1 area, the Liang Anggang Protected Forest, and Pengayuan were identified as priority zones requiring close cross-sector coordination.
Banjarbaru Municipal Administration Economic and Development Assistant Marhain Rahman said an estimated 1,700 hectares had burned in the city, with fires on about 160 hectares brought under control, while dry vegetation and other combustible material allowed the fires to spread rapidly.
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Translator: Tumpal AA, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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