Friday, 23 October 2026
JAMBI | INDATANEWS.COM - The Indonesian National Police (Polri), together with the Integrated Task Force for Forest and Land Fire Management (Karhutla) of Sarolangun Regency, quickly brought a fire under control and extinguished it on Monday, August 24, 2026. The fire broke out in the plasma plantation area of PT BKS in Lubuk Kepayang Village, Air Hitam District, Sarolangun Regency.
The joint firefighting operation began at around 1 p.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB). Sarolangun Police Chief AKBP Wendi Oktariansyah personally led the operation. He was supported by Sarolangun Regent H. Hurmin, Commander of Kodim 0420/Sarko Lt. Col. Inf. Yahya Wisnu Arianto, representatives of the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), personnel from the Sarolangun Police, Kodim 0420/Sarko, Manggala Agni, and the PT BKS Karhutla task force.The fire occurred in a peatland area and therefore received particular attention. The characteristics of peat soil pose a risk of fire spreading beneath the surface, making it difficult to extinguish unless swift and comprehensive action is taken. The response teams were therefore divided among several fire-affected locations to accelerate the firefighting operation.
Personnel at the scene deployed various types of equipment to contain the fire, including water pumps, firefighting agents and so-called "kepyok," simple hand tools used for manual firefighting. The teams extinguished affected areas manually while simultaneously monitoring the possibility of the fire spreading to surrounding areas.
In addition to firefighting operations, the Integrated Task Force instructed PT BKS to immediately deploy an excavator to construct firebreaks or canal blocks. The measure was intended to prevent the fire from spreading further across the peatland and reduce the risk of the blaze expanding.The forest and land fire response did not rely solely on personnel operating on the ground. The task force also coordinated the deployment of firefighting aircraft for a water-bombing operation. Ground teams provided information on the locations of the fire so that aerial firefighting could be conducted more precisely and effectively.
Jambi Provincial Police Chief Inspector General of Police Krisno H. Siregar, through Jambi Police Public Relations Head Senior Commissioner of Police Erlan Munaji, said that combating forest and land fires requires a coordinated response centered on speed, cooperation and prevention. Given the unique characteristics of peatlands, all parties involved must act quickly to prevent fires from spreading across larger areas."The Jambi Police Chief emphasizes that forest and land fires must be handled quickly and in a coordinated manner. All personnel in the field are continuing to work closely with the military, regional government, Manggala Agni and the company to extinguish the fire and ensure that it does not spread again," Erlan Munaji said.
Although no flames were visible, the Integrated Task Force did not immediately end its operation. Personnel continued cooling and mop-up operations in areas previously affected by the fire. The measures were intended to ensure that any remaining embers did not reignite and trigger a new fire.
Erlan explained that cooling operations are an important part of forest and land fire management, particularly in peatland areas. Personnel must ensure that all remaining embers and hotspots are completely brought under control before leaving the site."After the fire was extinguished, cooling and mop-up operations continued. This is important to ensure that all embers have been fully extinguished and that no new hotspots emerge. All personnel are in good condition, and the situation at the site is currently calm and under control," he said.
The cooperation between the police, military, regional government, Manggala Agni and the company played an important role in managing the fire. The division of responsibilities between ground teams and aerial support enabled personnel to bring the fire under control while simultaneously monitoring for potential new hotspots.
The Jambi Police urged residents and companies to increase their vigilance against the risk of forest and land fires, particularly when hotspots emerge in areas covered by combustible vegetation and highly flammable materials.
The Jambi Police also called on the public to immediately report any signs of fire so that response teams can take early action. A rapid response is crucial to prevent a fire from developing and spreading across a wider area."Prevention is a shared responsibility. We urge the public, companies and all relevant stakeholders not to burn land and to immediately report any fire they discover. The police, together with all relevant agencies, will continue to strengthen monitoring and firefighting efforts across Jambi Province," he said in closing.
The handling of the fire in the PT BKS plasma plantation area demonstrates the importance of a rapid response to forest and land fires, particularly on peatlands. After the fire was extinguished and cooling and mop-up operations were carried out, the situation at the site was reported to be calm and under control. The Integrated Task Force will continue monitoring the area to ensure that no new hotspots emerge that could trigger another fire. (IDNC)REPORTER: Dalil Harahap | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
