Indonesia: At least 69 hot-spots detected in Dumai in January-July

Antara 13 Jul 11;

Dumai, Riau (ANTARA News) - The Dumai agriculture, plantation and forestry office has detected at least 69 hot-spots from January to July 2011, and 11 of them have been tackled optimally.

"Meanwhile, the rest or 58 cases can not be dealt with optimally due to access difficulty to reach the locations and lack of water sources in the fire sites," Head of the Dumai Agriculture, Plantation and Forestry Office Suriyanto said here Wednesday.

The hot-spots were detected among other things in East Dumai (six hotspots), Bukit Kapur (13), Medang Kampai (nine) and Sungai Sembilan (41).

Most of the fires were located in industrial forests (HTI), concessionary forests belonging to PT Suntara Gajapatih (SGP), Sinar Mas, Surya Dumai Agrindo and ex-PT Dock.

"Only few of them were abandoned lands owned by the government and community, and also oil palm plantations," he said.

Lack of personnel was also a problem hindering the fire handling in Dumai, Suriyanto said.

"If we have enough budget, we will be able to solve the problems in the field," Suriyanto said.

In Dumai, a number of local Residents have begun to suffer from respiratory problems due to the haze.

"At night, the air becomes choking. The smell of haze also stings. The haze seems to be very thick," Suhendra (32), a local resident, said in Dumai recently.

Marjoko Santoso, head of the Dumai health service, has warned the public that the air quality in the region has deteriorated due to haze containing excessive sulfur dioxide which is hazardous to human health.

The Air Pollution Standard Index board owned by PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI) showed the pollutant standard index at 242 meaning a very dangerous level, he said on July 4.

According to him, the air condition in Dumai has been very dangerous for people of all walks of life, especially for those having respiratory problems.
(Uu.F001/H-NG)

Editor: Priyambodo RH

NOAA satellite detects seven hotspots in Hulu Sungai Tengah
Antara 13 Jul 11;

Barabai, South Kalimantan (ANTARA News) - The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)`s satellite detected seven hotspots in Hulu Sungai Tengah District, South Kalimantan Province, Wednesday.

The seven hotspots were located in three sub districts, Sukeran Effendi, the Hulu Sungai Tengah forestry and plantation office`s forest protection section, said here Wednesday.

"Two hotspots are found in Barabai, four in Pandawan and one hotspot in Labuan Amas Utara," he said.

The seven hotspots were not located in forest area, but in peat land and dried farming area, he said.

"Based on the NOAA satellite monitoring, forest area in Hulu Sungai Tengah is safe from the possibility of fire breakout," he said.

His office regularly receives data obtained from the NOAA`s satellite on hotspots.

The local forestry and plantation office is on alert of possible forest fire during this current dry season.

On Kalimantan Island, haze from forest and plantation fires has forced the authorities of Haji Asan airport in Sampit, East Kotawaringin District, Central Kalimantan province, to delay flights, over the past one week.

"Due to the haze, plane arrivals and departures are often late," Head of Haji Asan Airport Maruli Tua Edison Saragih said in Sampit on July 7.

He hoped that the haze would not get thicker in the future because it could endanger the flights.

The East Kotawaringin district administration has set up a command post to deal with the forest and plantation fires.

The command post involves various officers in the district, such as the environmental affairs office, the forestry office, the local fire brigade, the plantation and agriculture office, and police, according to Sanggol Lumban Gaol, an official of the East Kotawaringin district administration.

Similar command posts will later be set up at all sub districts and villages in East Kotawaringin District.
(Uu.F001/HAJM/H-YH)

Editor: Priyambodo RH