"The 150 hectares of land are located in three villages in two subdistricts in East Kolaka," Wibowo said in a statement here on Sunday.
The East Kolaka Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) has declared an emergency status, made effective for 11 days until September 11, over the fire that gutted the the Land Management Rights (HPL)-granted areas.
However, a water-bombing helicopter is not yet needed to support the firefighting mission, Wibowo said, adding that the land-based efforts to extinguish the fire were carried out by a joint team.
The team members came from those of the local disaster mitigation agency, military, police, as well as environment and forestry fire fighters and community members.
The efforts to extinguish the fire were also supported by two palm oil plantations, PT Antam Pomalaa and PT Sari, by providing water pumps.
The Southeast Sulawesi Disaster Mitigation Agency had also sent more water pumps to the location on late Saturday (Aug 31).
Translator: Martha Herlinawati S, Sri Hary
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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