Antara 4 Aug 15;
Sampit (ANTARA News) - As many as 25 hotspots were detected in several areas of Kotawaringin Timur district in Central Kalimantan on Monday, according to Haji Asan Sampit Airports Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency.
"Of the 25 hotspots, 13 were detected in the sub-district of Mentaya Hilir Selatan, while the 12 others were spotted in the sub-districts of Mentaya Hilir Utara, Kota Besi and Mentawa Baru Ketapang," Yulida Warni, the head of the regional branch of the agency, said here on Monday.
A majority of the hotspots were detected in the sub-districts of Mentaya Hilir Selatan and Mentaya Hilir Utara because the large peat lands in these regions are experiencing a prolonged drought, Warni explained.
The hotspots need to be checked on ground level so that fire brigades can respond immediately if they are found to be bush or forest fires, she pointed out.
On Monday afternoon, local firefighters attempted to extinguish land fires in the neighborhood of Jenderal Sudirman Street in Sampit city.
Moreover, certain areas of Mentawa Baru Ketapang and Baamang sub-districts were hit by recurring land fires over the past few weeks, Yanto, a local resident, stated.
"Several days ago, the land fires nearly reached our housing complex. This is why we are helping firefighters douse the flames. However, we do not know what is causing the land fires," the resident of Tidar Housing Complex remarked.
(Reported by Norjani/Uu.R013/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
