Fire Goes Raging In Natuna Reservoirs, Officers Forced To Stop Blackouts Because It's Dark

NATUNA - The Natuna Regency Government, Riau Islands, is trying to extinguish forest and land fires that burned about four hectares of area in the Pengadah area.

The fire that occurred on Wednesday night was located far from settlements so that it did not cause any casualties.

Head of the Natuna Regency Fire and Rescue Service (Disdamkarmat), Syawal, said that his party received a resident report at around 20.27 WIB. After receiving information, the officers immediately prepared equipment and coordinated with a number of parties before heading to the location.

"The fire broke out in Pengadah, and the burning land was owned by the community," he said in Natuna, Antara, Thursday, December 4.

Personnel from the Natuna Disdamkarmat assisted by the TNI, Polri, and the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) are in the process of extinguishing the fire. However, these efforts are hampered by limited equipment, especially hoses that do not reach hotspots that are far in difficult areas to pass.

"The fire was stopped at 22.05 WIB because the hose could not reach the hotspots and dark conditions made it difficult for officers to work further," said Syawal.

He ensured that monitoring was still carried out to prevent the fire from spreading to settlements. Syawal also appealed to the public not to clear land by burning because it has the potential to trigger similar incidents, especially in weather conditions that can easily enlarge the spread of fire.