Indonesia: Pekanbaru shrouded in haze from forest fire

Antara 14 Jul 19;

Pekanbaru. Riau (ANTARA) - Tampan and Senapelan Sub-districts in Pekanbaru, Riau Province, Sumatra Island, on Sunday were shrouded in haze coming from forest fire.

"Haze shrouds Panam (in Tampan sub-district)," Tanjung, a local inhabitant, said here on Sunday.

The Terra and Aqua satellites detected 38 hotspots on Sunday morning, an increase from 35 hotspots on the previous day, the Pekanbaru meteorology, climatology and geophysics (BMKG) station, said.

The 38 hotspots were found in 11 districts and municipalities in Riau Province. Siak District had nine hotspots, Pelalawan seven, Bengkalis six, Rokan Hilir six, Kampar three, Rokan Hulu two, as well as Pekanbaru, Meranti, Kuantan Singngi, Indragiri Hilir and Indragiri Hulu one hotspot each

A joint team comprising local fire fighters, police and military officers, has tried to extinguish forest fire in Parit Baru Village, Tambang Sub-district, Kampar District, since several days ago.

A local farmer identified by his initial as MH (22) was detained by Riau Police for setting fire on peatland area to be converted into a farming area in Parit Baru.

The Indonesian Government has outlawed the use of fire to clear land because it often trigger forest and bush fires.

Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Lt Gen. Doni Monardo had earlier stated that Riau was highly susceptible to forest and land fires, with the dry season peaking during the period from July to October.

The agency has deployed 1,512 personnel in Riau comprising military and police personnel, Manggala Agni, and the Fire Care Community, as well as involved academicians, ulemas, environmental NGO, and journalists, as a precautionary measure against land and forest fires.

"The task force is expected to edify the people to stop the practice of land burning to prepare the land for plantation," Monardo remarked.

Earlier this year, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reminded the regional authorities to step up their vigilance over possible forest fires and droughts as this year's dry season was forecast to be drier than that of the previous year.

Reporter: FB Anggoro, Fardah
Editor: Sri Haryati

50 hectares of land gutted in West Aceh
Antara 13 Jul 19;

The local firefighters are finding it difficult due to the absence of water sources near the disaster-hit areas as a result of the prolonged drought currently ravaging several villages in West Aceh District
Meulaboh, W Aceh (ANTARA) - A fire ravaged over 50 hectares of land in West Aceh District's area, Aceh Province amid the dry season, and firefighters are still unable to extinguish it, West Aceh's Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) Spokesman Mashuri said.

Instead of the fire being put out, it had spread to certain areas of Arongan Lambalek, Woyla Barat, Meureubo, and Johan Pahlawan Subdistricts though local authorities continued their endeavor to put it out, he said here Friday evening.

The local firefighters are finding it difficult due to the absence of water sources near the disaster-hit areas as a result of the prolonged drought currently ravaging several villages in West Aceh District, Mashuri said.

The BPBD workers are collaborating with those from the local police, military, and community to find water sources about two kilometers away from the disaster-hit villages, he said.

The dry season has triggered fires in the scorched peatlands in Aceh Province.

On July 4, a fire scorched 20 hectares of peatland in two villages of Nagan Raya District, Aceh amid the dry season that has hindered fire-extinguishing efforts, Nagan Raya Disaster Mitigation Agency's (BPBD's) Acting Head Hamidi stated.

In a bid to prevent the gutting of certain peatland areas in Cot Mue Village in Tadu Raya Sub-district and Kuala Tripa Village in Tripa Makmur Sub-district, BPBD workers had built canal blockings, he revealed.

"We have been able to localize the fire by building canal blockings at several locations, but our endeavor to douse it has not yet been completely successful," Hamidi remarked, adding that the destroyed areas belong to local villagers.

During this year's dry season, efforts to prevent land and forest fires from recurring are also being made by the authorized institutions in other provinces within Sumatra Island, such as South Sumatra and Riau. (INE)

EDITED BY INE

Reporter: T. Dedi Iskandar, Rahmad Nasut
Editor: Fardah Assegaf

Police detains suspect in Kampar peatland fire
Antara 14 Jul 19;

Kampar, Riau (ANTARA) - Riau Police has arrested a man identified by his initial MH for allegedly ignited a fire in a peatland area, when he opened a two-hectare land for chili farming in Parit Baru Village, Kampar District of Riau Province.

"The suspect admitted that he want to open a chili farm. He slashed and burned bushes in the area," Tambang Sub-district Police Chief First Police Inspector Jurfredi said here on Sunday.

However, his action has caused the fire to spread out of control and engulfed a wider peatland area.

The 22-year old suspect was arrested on Wednesday (July 10) at around 2 p.m. local time at the fire site.

"The suspect opened a two-hectare land by burning it with lighter. He was planned to open a chili farm," Jurfredi said.

Dry peatland is flammable and once it was burnt, fire can easily spread under ground and create black smoke, he said.

"As the fire went wild, the suspect tried to put it out, but it was a vain attempt," Jurfredi added.

The suspect was arrested at Tambang Police precinct in Kampar, and charged with article 108 of law no 39/2014 on forest preservation, as amended by article 187 of the Criminal Code on the ban to burn land and forest.

The forest fire brigade of the Environmental and Forestry Ministry (Manggala Agni) continued its efforts to extinguish the fire.

"Fire has been detected below the peatland surface, fully conflagrating the bushes. This condition has made it difficult for the team to put out the fire," Edwin Putra, head of Manggala Agni for Pekanbaru region, revealed here on Friday.

Putra confirmed that the team had managed to contain the fire and will continue to work towards extinguishing it.

Since January 2019, the Riau Police has handled 17 cases related to land and forest fires in the region.

Reporter: FB Anggoro, Sri Haryati
Editor: Fardah Assegaf

Manggala Agni continues fire-fighting efforts in Kampar peatland
Antara 12 Jul 19;

Kampar, Riau (ANTARA) - The forest fire brigade of the Environmental and Forestry Ministry (Manggala Agni) continued its efforts to extinguish a fire engulfing a peatland in Parit Baru Village, Tambang Sub-district, Kampar District, Riau, in the past two days.

"Fire has been detected below the peatland surface, fully conflagrating the bushes. This condition has made it difficult for the team to put out the fire," Edwin Putra, head of Manggala Agni for Pekanbaru region, revealed here on Friday.

The land fire was only detected on Thursday (July 11) at around 1 p.m. local time by the fire brigade when it had already scorched two hectares of the villagers' land. The team has spotted indications of intentional burning.

The Manggala Agni team has teamed up with the military and police personnel as well as locals to extinguish the land fire.

Putra confirmed that the team had managed to contain the fire and will continue to work towards extinguishing it.

Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Lt Gen. Doni Monardo had earlier stated that Riau was highly susceptible to forest and land fires, with the dry season peaking during the period from July to October.

The agency has deployed 1,512 personnel in Riau comprising military and police personnel, Manggala Agni, and the Fire Care Community, as well as involved academicians, ulemas, environmental NGO, and journalists, as a precautionary measure against land and forest fires.

"The task force is expected to edify the people to stop the practice of land burning to prepare the land for plantation," Monardo remarked. Related news: Environment ministry intensifies land and forest fire control

Reporter: FB Anggoro, Sri Haryati
Editor: Azizah Fitriyanti