“After hearing presentations from various related agencies, we agreed to declare a forest and land fire disaster alert status for 90 days, or approximately the next three months,” Kotim deputy district head Irawati said in Sampit on Friday.
The declaration followed a coordination meeting attended by multiple stakeholders, including the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Kotim Meteorology Agency (BMKG), Kotim District Police, 1015/Sampit Military Command, and Kotim District Attorney’s Office.
Representatives from the Fire and Rescue Department (Disdamkarmat), Manggala Agni, sub-district heads, and community fire awareness groups (MPA) also joined the meeting.
Irawati informed that the decision was based on recent developments in the region. The frequency of forest fires in Kotim has been increasing, with the number of detected hotspots also climbing.
Moreover, weather forecasts from BMKG Kotim indicate a high potential for forest fires in the Bumi Habaring Hurung area amid a continued decline in rainfall during the dry season.
“However, this status may be revised depending on future evaluations. If the number of hotspots decreases, the alert level can be downgraded. Conversely, if the hotspots increase, we can raise the status,” she added.
Kotim BPBD head Multazam said that Kotim is the fifth region in Central Kalimantan to declare a forest fire alert status, after Pulang Pisau district, Gunung Mas district, Palangka Raya city, and the provincial government of Central Kalimantan.
He informed that several directives from national, provincial, and district leaders were conveyed during the coordination meeting, which will serve as guidelines for local task forces.
“If fires occur only once or twice a day, and we have fast access to the location and impose restrictions, God willing, we can manage them. But it becomes difficult if the fires spread. We urge public awareness, as nearly 99 percent of forest fires are caused by human activity, whether intentional or accidental,” he said.
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Translator: Primayanti
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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