Indonesia Deploys 12,880 Personnel to Fight Forest Fires in Kalimantan, Sumatra

August 23, 2026 | 09:17 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) has confirmed that the government is accelerating integrated forest and land fire control operations in Kalimantan and Sumatra by deploying 12,880 personnel for firefighting efforts, weather modification operations (OMC), and air quality monitoring.

Ristianto Pribadi, Head of the Ministry’s Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation Bureau, stated in a release received in Jakarta on Sunday that strategic measures are being taken to ensure faster and more precise handling at the ground level.

These steps aim to contain affected areas to prevent the fire from spreading, as well as to provide comprehensive protection for public health, safety, and the continuity of community activities against the threat of smoke.

"As a rapid response in the field, the government is mobilizing a full force of 12,880 joint personnel, comprising the Ministry’s Manggala Agni brigade, the military (TNI), the police (Polri), the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Regional Disaster Management Agencies (BPBD), local governments, Fire-Concerned Communities (MPA), business entities, and volunteers," said Ristianto.

The deployment of personnel and firefighting equipment is being managed dynamically, taking into careful account wind patterns, weather conditions, the presence of peat ecosystems, site accessibility, and potential impacts on public facilities and settlements.

He explained that field tactics include integrated patrols, initial and follow-up firefighting, the creation of firebreaks, area cooling, and strict monitoring of sites after the fires have been extinguished.

Ground operations are tactically reinforced by air support through Weather Modification Operations (OMC), conducted strategically by utilizing available cloud cover based on BMKG analysis. Patrol aircraft and aerial firefighting (water bombing) assets are deployed to reach landscapes inaccessible by land and to curb the escalation of fires.

Regarding social impact, he noted that monitoring of smoke movement and air quality is being intensified and conducted regularly through close inter-agency coordination. Information regarding air quality indices, flight visibility, healthcare preparedness, and adjustments to educational activities is updated regularly to ensure public safety.

The Ministry of Forestry emphasizes that preventive measures are key to the success of firefighting operations. The public and business operators are urged to refrain from land clearing or preparation through burning.

All ground and aerial firefighting efforts are coordinated using the Ministry of Forestry’s integrated monitoring system, SiPongi, which utilizes imagery from NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites.

The government is paying special attention to and maintaining strict oversight of six priority provinces prone to forest and land fires: Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan.

Integrated monitoring covers areas with fluctuating daily conditions, including Ketapang, Sanggau, and Sintang Regencies in West Kalimantan; East Kotawaringin, Kapuas, and Palangka Raya in Central Kalimantan; and Tapin, Banjar, and South Hulu Sungai in South Kalimantan.

In the Sumatra corridor, monitoring covers Pelalawan, Indragiri Hulu, and Bengkalis in Riau; Sarolangun, Muaro Jambi, and Merangin in Jambi; and Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI), Musi Banyuasin, and Muara Enim in South Sumatra.

Real-time updates on hotspot data are publicly accessible via the SiPongi Forest and Land Fire Monitoring System at https://sipongi.gakkum.kehutanan.go.id.

Reports or indications of incidents on the ground can be submitted directly to the nearest forest fire control post, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), or local government authorities.

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