Water Shortages, Strong Winds Hamper Kalimantan Forest Firefighting

August 24, 2026 | 07:03 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has revealed several challenges in extinguishing forest and land fires on the island of Kalimantan. One of the primary issues is the dwindling supply of water sources.

Berton Suar Pelita Panjaitan, Acting Head of the BNPB’s Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, stated that available water sources are receding. He noted that the available water is increasingly distant from the fire hotspots.

"Field obstacles for ground operations include a lack of access roads to the hotspots, making the terrain difficult to penetrate. Water sources are receding and are becoming further away from the fire sites," Berton said during an online press conference on Sunday, August 23, 2026.

According to Berton, these conditions complicate both ground and aerial firefighting operations, as fire trucks and water-carrying helicopters must travel greater distances between water sources and the fires.

"Water sources are very limited, given that we are currently in the dry season," he said. Fire suppression efforts rely on water tanks transported by trucks and water drawn from hydrants.

In addition to water source issues, Berton noted that strong winds around the fire sites are hindering firefighting operations. Strong winds facilitate the spread of fire and make it difficult for helicopter pilots to maneuver for water-bombing missions.

"Strong winds around the fire spots make helicopter maneuvering difficult, compounded by limited visibility," he said.

Berton stated that helicopter water-bombing is not the primary firefighting method but rather supports ground operations. He added that the government is currently working to increase the number of water tanker trucks deployed to fight forest and land fires.

There are currently six priority provinces for handling forest and land fires: West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Riau, Jambi, and South Sumatra.

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