The forest and land fire task force members deployed in districts prone to forest and peatland fires are continuing to sanction anybody found violating the ban on slash-and-burn practices, chief of the public relations division of the South Sumatra provincial police, Senior Commissioner Supriadi, said here on Wednesday.
As per data, nine districts and one city in the province face the threat of forest and land fires. The nine districts are Musi Banyuasin, Ogan Komering Ilir, Ogan Komering Ilir, Muara Enim, Ogan Komering Ulu Timur, Lahat, Musi Rawas, and Musirawas Utara, while the city is Palembang.
The task force has taken precautionary measures to deal with forest and land fires, including preparing personnel equipped with fire extinguishers. Hence, in case of a fire outbreak they can quickly reach the scene and put out the fire, he said.
The police are also upholding the law to guard the implementation of the ban on slash-and-burn practices in the dry season, he added.
To prevent and combat forest and land fires, the police are also cooperating with the Provincial, District, and Municipal Disaster Mitigation Boards (BPPD), the Indonesian Military's village supervisory non-commissioned officers (Babinsa), and the fire care community in each region, he said.
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Translator: Yudi Abdullah/Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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