South Kalimantan Asks For Helicopter Assistance To Overcome Forest And Land Fires

BANJARMASIN - The Provincial Government of South Kalimantan submitted a request for helicopter assistance to deal with forest and land fires (karhutla) in its area.

The Daily Executor of the Head of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of South Kalimantan Province, Bambang Dedi M, said that the request for helicopter assistance had been submitted to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

"We have proposed to BNPB for standby assistance for water bombing helicopters (water bombings) for South Kalimantan," he said in Banjarbaru, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, May 29.

Bambang said helicopters needed to be alerted to support water bombing operations during forest and land fires.

According to him, the South Kalimantan Provincial Government has submitted a request for helicopter assistance because the Banjarbaru City Government and Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency have proposed the determination of the alert status of forest and land fires.

"Because there are two regions proposing this status, our Governor has signed a proposal for helicopter assistance," he said.

"Usually two water bombing helicopters get help, even a forest and land fire surveillance helicopter," he said.

In accordance with instructions from the Governor of South Kalimantan H Sahbirin Noor, the local government collaborated with the police, TNI, Manggala Agni, firefighters, and community elements in optimizing efforts to prevent and overcome forest and land fires.

"At the time of the forest and land fire incident, everything came quickly so that it could be handled properly," he said.

Meanwhile, South Kalimantan Province BPBD Operations Control Center Manager Ricky Ferdyanto said forest and land fires had started to occur frequently in South Kalimantan.

"It can still be handled quickly, not very widespread," he said.

Forest and land fires usually increase during the dry season, which according to the forecasts of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) this year will take place from June to October in the South Kalimantan region.

Bambang said that the hotspots for forest and land fires began to appear ahead of the dry season.

"Yesterday, there were several hotspots in the Banjabaru area, Banjar Regency, and Tanah Laut," he said.

Therefore, he said, the South Kalimantan BPBD intensified coordination with district/city level BPBDs, police, TNI, Manggala Agni, and other relevant stakeholders to increase preparedness for forest and land fires.

BPBD also continues to monitor the emergence of hotspots. In addition to monitoring satellite image data from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, BPBD deployed patrol officers to monitor forest and land conditions.