"Now we are making land partitions to prevent wildfires in Selaku from spreading to North Singkawang", Captain Taufik Wiramansyah, commander of the Seadau military unit, said here on Saturday.
The efforts to extinguish the forest, peatland and plantation fires involved military and police personnel, as well as local inhabitants.
In Sedau, the wildfires have razed some 100 hectares of area in Semelagi (North Singkawang) covering 50 ha, Pangmilang (South Singkawang, 30 ha), and Senggang (East Singkawang, 20 ha).
As the weather in West Kalimantan is now hot, Captain Wiramansyah urged local farmers not to clear land by using slash and burn methods.
He also urged smokers not to throw cigarette butts into peatland and forest areas, since they could cause fires.
The commander said those causing fires intentionally or unintentionally would be prosecuted.
Due to forest, peatland and plantation fires, Singkawang town was shrouded in haze on Saturday morning. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
