Two Peat Fields in Singkawang City Burnt

Land fires that occurred in Setapuk Kelurahan Kecil and Setapuk Besar, North Singkawang District. (ANTARA/Rudi)

PONTIANAK - Head of the Singkawang Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Edy Prawoko, said that his party is currently working hard to extinguish the fire that burned two peatlands in Setapuk Kecil and Setapuk Besar Villages.

"The information we have received is that land fires have occurred since Monday (14/8) afternoon, especially in Setapuk Kecil and Setapuk Besar Subdistricts, Singkawang Utara District. To this day we are trying to put out the fires that are burning peatlands there," said Edy Prawoko quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, August 16.

From that incident, a joint team consisting of the BPBD, Manggala Agni, National Army (TNI), National Police (Polri), Sabang Area Management Agency (BPKS), volunteers, subdistricts, and urban villages made efforts to put out the fire at the location of the fire.

"We went down to the location to check and extinguish the fire by bringing a fleet of tank cars and pumping equipment and others," he said.

However, because the location of the fire could not be reached by four-wheeled vehicles, it was done on foot to enter the location.

In addition, efforts to educate, communicate, and information as well as blackouts continue to be carried out for local residents.

"Considering that the location of the fire is on peat land, it is not easy to extinguish it," he said.

The Singkawang City BPBD will ask for assistance from the West Kalimantan Province BPBD to carry out water bombing to extinguish the land fires.

"Hopefully this land fire will be extinguished soon, along with that let's try together and pray that it will rain in Singkawang soon," he said.

He also reminded the public not to clear land by burning it, especially on peatlands, especially during the current hot weather.

"Thank you to all those who have been involved, keep yourself and your family healthy by not leaving the house if there is no important need. And even if you have to leave the house, you should wear a mask," he said.