Based on reports received at the South Sumatra Forest and Land Fire Task Force Command Center at the BPBD Office on Monday, the fire that burnt down the land owned by residents hit at around 1:15 Western Indonesian Time, precisely located in Pal 2, Babat Tomat Village.
With the deployment of 15 local BPBD personnel, five police officers, two TNI personnel, and two Manggali Agni Fire Brigade personnel as well as some 15 community members, the fire raging in the peatland could be extinguished at 9:45 p.m. local time.
After being successfully extinguished, officers also immediately sprayed water on the burnt land to ensure that the fire does not flare up again.
At least two hectares were declared ravaged, according to a report from the Operational Officer of the BPBD Pusdalops, Musi Banyuasin District, on Monday morning.
The commander of the South Sumatra Forest and Land Fire Task Force Col. Inf Iman Budiman has confirmed the incident.
He said that Musi Banyuasin was included in the five districts declared vulnerable to fire, as the peatland was spread over a large area, and the activity of the surrounding community that was keen to clear land by conducting burning activities.
"At the moment, our personnel are on standby in the Musi Banyuasin District, especially in villages that have always been ravaged by fires in the dry season," Budiman remarked.
On Saturday (Aug 4), a land fire erupted in Ogan Komering Ilir District, precisely in the Pulu Beruang area, Tulung Selapan, which the officers had also successfully extinguished.
South Sumatra had raised awareness of the threat of forest and land fires as on August 18-September 2, 2018, will hold the 18th Asian Games in Palembang.
As many as 55 villages on the border of the city scattered in the districts of Ogan Ilir and Ogan Komering Ilir are currently guarded by hundreds of TNI personnel.
Reported Dolly Rosana
Edited by Eliswan, Rahmad Nasution
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
