Evaluation Of Handling Forest And Land Fires, Acting Governor Calls 322 Villages In West Kalimantan As Vulnerable

The West Kalimantan (West Kalimantan) government together with a number of agencies are evaluating the handling of forest and land fires (karhutla).

Acting Governor of West Kalimantan Harisson said the evaluation was carried out so that the handling would be better in the future.

"With this evaluation, we certainly hope that the handling and prevention of forest and land fires in West Kalimantan can be better and more careful in the future," he said in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Thursday, September 21, which was confiscated by Antara.

Harisson then quoted reports from the BMKG during June-November 2023 that the rainfall in West Kalimantan was minimal due to El Nino's impact. The weather has high potential to cause forest and land fires and other drought impacts.

"It is estimated that el nino will occur to moderate to strong categories. Estimates from August to September 2023, the dominant rainfall category is low. I received a report from Mrs. Erika BMKG that on September 19, our distribution of hotspots was zero, so if the Head of BNPB today visited West Kalimantan, the air was fresh," he said.

Still related to the report, on September 20-21, 2023 there will be even rain in West Kalimantan and on 22-26 only part of West Kalimantan will receive light to moderate rain.

"So in the next two days our air will be relatively good. But later on September 22-26, we must again be vigilant that in West Kalimantan it will be easy for forest and land fires to occur in most parts of West Kalimantan," he said.

He said there were 322 villages in West Kalimantan that had the highest forest and land fires prone points, namely in Ketapang, Sintang and Bengkayang Regencies. He also shared an experience with the TNI Commander in extinguishing hotspots in Mempawah Regency.

"On August 23, 2023, the TNI Commander also made a working visit to West Kalimantan. We tried to go to Mempawah by helicopter, extinguish the hotspots there and it was not as easy as imagined. This means that there are hotspots that have been sprayed and the land has become porridge, but once we leave it 15 minutes later destroyed it again," said Harisson.

He added that West Kalimantan has a peatland area of about 20 percent of the 2.8 million hectares of the West Kalimantan area of 14 million.

"The depth of peatlands in West Kalimantan is 14 to 20 meters," he added.