A week of Karhutla, BPBD Pontianak indicates the element of negligence

PONTIANAK - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Pontianak City is sniffing out indications of deliberate intent in a series of land fires that have occurred in the last week. This suspicion is strengthened by the discovery of a number of evidence at the scene that refers to planned burning activities, not triggered by natural or weather factors.

One of the crucial findings was in the Gang Masjid area, Jalan Parit H Husein II. At this location, officers secured a used bottle of a drink containing gasoline and a sack containing dried banana leaves which were suspected to be used as a fire starter. All the evidence has now been handed over to the police for further investigation regarding the identity of the perpetrator.

Head of the Pontianak City BPBD Nasir explained that although BMKG had not detected hotspots through satellites, the facts on the ground showed that there were real fire points that appeared in strategic areas, including those close to settlements.

This indicates a fairly massive small-scale burning effort but was immediately extinguished by the rapid reaction team before being detected by satellite sensors.

"When the officers arrived, the perpetrator had fled. We are coordinating with the police and BPN to map the ownership of land at these points," said Nasir, quoted by Antara, Sunday, January 25.

Until now, the focus of monitoring has been tightened in three vulnerable sub-districts, namely South, Southeast, and North Pontianak. The characteristics of peatland in this area are a challenge in itself; the fire often spreads below the surface of the ground and only leaves smoke at the top, so early reports from residents are the key to preventing severe fires.

Along with the control of the fire point and the air quality in Pontianak City gradually improved to the moderate category on Sunday morning, after touching the unhealthy category the night before.

The city government emphasized a strict ban on land owners to open land by burning, and asked the public to maintain collective vigilance so that smoke pollution does not paralyze the activities of residents again.