Central Papua steps up patrol, prevent forest fire

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Nabire, Central Papua (ANTARA) – The Central Papua forest and land fire mitigation task force has intensified early detection and integrated patrols to prevent wildfires amid the peak of the dry season this August and September 2026.

“Forest fire mitigation must not merely focus on extinguishing fires once they have grown. It must prioritize early preventive measures,” Central Papua Deputy Police Chief Senior Commissioner Gustav Robby Urbinas said in Nabire City, Central Papua Province on Monday.

He noted that the province has been experiencing a dry season since early June, a situation now exacerbated by a strengthening El Niño.

This weather phenomenon is expected to reduce rainfall and deplete water sources, as well as significantly increase the risk of fires in forests, plantations, agricultural areas, and locations with a history of wildfires.

If left unaddressed, says Urbinas, these fires can cause severe environmental degradation and produce haze that harms public health and disrupts local economies.

To combat this, Urbinas urged the task force to prioritize preventive and preemptive measures, notably by educating the public about the dangers of slash-and-burn land clearing.

“We must build public awareness that preventing forest fires is our collective responsibility,” he added.

The task force has been instructed to continuously map vulnerable areas and enhance early detection systems to ensure hotspots are addressed before fires can spread.

Urbinas also called for strict law enforcement against any party that causes fires, whether intentionally or through negligence, while maintaining a professional, responsive, and humane approach to ensure the safety of officers and the public alongside environmental sustainability.

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded 1,923 hotspots across Central Papua between August 10 and 22.

Head of the Nabire BMKG station Husain Kamadi noted that Nabire District accounted for the majority of the threat, with 1,069 hotspots detected. Of the total hotspots recorded across the province, 113 were categorized as high-confidence fire risks.