Putussibau, Kapuas Hulu (ANTARA) - Seven villages in the Kapuas Hulu District, West Kalimantan, are prone to forest and land fires, according to the local Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD).

The Kapuas Hulu BPBD noted that the prone areas comprise the villages of Penai and Bangkong in Silat Hilir Sub-district, Ranyai Hilir Village in Seberuang Sub-district, Madang Permai Village in Suhaid Sub-district, Hinterland and Sekulat areas in Selimbau Sub-district, and Sepandan Village in Batang Lupar Sub-district, with a vast area of peatland.

"There will be a team comprising members of the TNI (military), Polri (police), BPBD, and community assigned to the seven villages," Task Force Head of Kapuas Hulu BPBD Rupinus stated in Putussibau, the capital of Kapuas Hulu District, Thursday.

"The joint team will conduct routine patrols that will also be assisted by community elements in the sub-district area," he added.

Rupinus elaborated that Kapuas Hulu BPBD had also established a land and forest fire control post at the Secretariat of the Kapuas Hulu District Fire Service Office to coordinate efforts to prevent and handle forest and land fires.

He also appealed to the Kapuas Hulu community to remain vigilant to the possibility of forest and land fires and to not conduct activities, such as using fire for land clearing, which could trigger forest and land fires.

"We often raise awareness and disseminate information to the community on the dangers of forest and land fires, and we hope no forest fire would arise in Kapuas Hulu, as it can have broad-ranging impacts," Rupinus emphasized.

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Translator: Teofilusianto/Eliswan Azly
Editor: Suharto
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