Preventing No Water Sources In Hotspots, South Kalimantan BPBD To Bring 10,000 Liters Of Tanks To Overcome Forest And Land Fires

Karhutla scorched 5 hectares of land on the side of the Banjarbaru-Tanah Laut road, South Kalimantan, Friday, September 8. (ANTARA/Tumpal A A)

The 5-hectare peat land on the national side of the road, Landasan Ulin Selatan Village, Banjarbaru City, South Kalimantan (Kalsel), caught fire.

The Banjarbaru Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Karhutla Task Force Agus Purwanto said officers decided to wait more than an hour for security to deal with forest and land fires (karhutla), especially around the location there was absolutely no water source.

"Officers waited for more than an hour at the location to find a moment so as not to endanger safety when cutting off the forest and land fire," he said in Banjarbaru, Friday, September 8, which was confiscated by Antara.

"We are waiting in residential areas that are close to the water source, after the fire approaches we will cut the hotspots," he continued.

According to Antara's observation, around 19.00 WITA, Friday, September 8, forest and land fires are still hitting the edge of the Banjarbaru-Sea Land. The smoke soars in the vicinity of the forest and land fires.

He said joint officers also brought water supplies using two tanks with a capacity of 10,000 liters. The supply anticipates that water shortage locations due to the dry season will result in 13 city districts in South Kalimantan being hit by drought.

Agus explained that reports of forest and land fires were received at around 16.30 WITA through officers who were conducting ground patrols.

Furthermore, it was seen that a helicopter unit was trying to extinguish it by reaching the mid-land peat area which was difficult for the ground task force to pass.

Meanwhile, a local resident, Jamilah (54) said the hotspot was lit at around 15.30 WITA, he also mentioned that the area often occurs in forest and land fires.

According to him, forest and land fires have the potential to occur every day because the burned land belongs to people who live outside the city of Banjarbaru.

"If the owner of the land is a resident here, it is certain to be cleaned without burning," he said.