Indonesia steps up forest fire response at Way Kambas National Park

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1 hour ago

Bandarlampung, Lampung (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) and other agencies are intensifying coordinated efforts to fight forest and land fires in Way Kambas National Park in Lampung Province.

“We have inspected fire response efforts in the conservation area alongside other stakeholders,” BNPB Chief Lt. Gen. Kristomei Sianturi said in Bandar Lampung, the capital of Lampung Province, on Sunday.

He said the field inspection was intended to ensure firefighting operations were swift, targeted, and effective.

“Forest and land fire response must be integrated, prioritizing personnel safety, rapid response, and accurate selection of priority areas,” he said.

The operation involves BNPB, regional disaster mitigation agencies (BPBD), the Indonesian military and police, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), fire departments, Way Kambas National Park authorities, and other agencies.

“Alongside ground operations, the response is being strengthened through weather modification operations using a Cessna Caravan aircraft,” he said.

He said the aircraft had conducted two sorties to disperse salt, or sodium chloride (NaCl), with 1,000 kilograms applied in each area: Way Kambas and West Lampung District.

“It is important to align aerial monitoring results with ground team reports, hotspot data, and the latest weather information from BMKG. Integrating these data is essential to targeting operations effectively,” he said.

He said strong interagency coordination and technological support were key to protecting the ecologically important conservation area from the threat of spreading fires.

“We urge residents, farmers, plantation owners, and businesses to protect the environment and prevent forest and land fires by adopting environmentally friendly land-clearing methods,” he said.