Fire 47J Owned By Perum Perhutani KPH Banyumas Burns Due To Farmers Cleaning Land Remains

Photo Illustration: Antara

CILACAP - Officers put out fire on the 47J Petak land belonging to Perum Perhutani, West Banyumas Forest Transportation Unit in the Karangpucung District, Cilacap Regency, Central Java Province, early Sunday morning, August 6.

"Alhamdulillah, based on the latest report I received, the fire was extinguished at around 01.00 WIB," said West Banyumas Forest Transportation Unit (KPH) administrator Arif Fitri, Banyumas Regency, Sunday, August 6.

He conveyed that the fire covering the former logging area in Petak 47J was reported to have occurred because there were cultivators who burned to clean the land.

"The information is that the burning was on Saturday afternoon. However, due to the hot weather, it spreads quickly, and if I observe it, the burning will be at several points," he said.

According to him, fires only occurred in the area of the former logging area covering an area of about two hectares and had no impact on the trees that were still standing.

He said that Perhutani KPH Banyumas Barat had socialized to cultivators so as not to use fire to clean up the land.

"However, there are people who may use fire and spread everywhere. That's the location from the side of the road, down to the bottom, there are no trees, only slashing remains," he said.

Previously, Arif said that forest areas under the management of Perhutani Banyumas Barat, which are prone to fires, were mostly on the side of the highway, such as the Kubangkung and Karangpucung forests in Cilacap and the forest on the east side of the Wangon-Ajibarang road in Banyumas.

"The anticipation that we are doing is by removing dry grass or flammable objects in forest areas. We will also build a fire warning board," he said on May 26, 2023.

In addition, he said, Perhutani carried out guidance to the people around the forest so as not to burn to open or clean the land.

"In agricultural activities in the forest, especially when removing grass or weeds, don't burn it," he said.