Kemenhut Berjibaku Padamkan Karhutla di Habitat Harimau Sumatera

Manggala Agni Forest Fire Control Brigade officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs are trying to put out a fire in peatland in Riau, Tuesday (10/3/2026) ANTARA/HO-Kemenhut

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) has deployed Manggala Agni to carry out forest and land fires (karhutla) in a number of Riau and Riau Islands areas, including areas that are home to the Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica).

Head of the Forest Fire Control Center (Dalkarhut) for the Sumatra Region of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ferdian Krisnanto, explained that his party deployed the Manggala Agni Forest Fire Control Brigade to carry out the karhutla in Riau and the Riau Islands, and even had to face a Sumatran Tiger while carrying out the fire.

"The current challenge is that most of my friends are fasting, so they need to keep their condition fit and safe at work. The obstacles that exist besides the very hot weather conditions, are also security factors. Last night around the location of the blackout on Pulau Muda, Pelalawan, a Sumatran Tiger was found, this condition of course is a vigilance from all members to maintain safety during work, safety work SOP must be done with discipline," said Ferdian as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, March 11.

For the safety of the animals and the officers, his party has coordinated with the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) to handle the Sumatran Tiger.

As of Tuesday (10/3), Manggala Agni together with the parties involved are controlling the red hero so that it does not spread. The extinguishing effort is carried out in a coordinated manner at several points, namely in Kampar Regency, Bengkalis Regency, Indragiri Hilir Regency, Pelalawan Regency, and Batam City.

Currently, in the Kampar Regency area, forest fires occurred in the Rimbo Panjang Village area, Tambang District. Meanwhile, in the Bengkalis Regency area, the fire reappeared in the Sukarjo Mesim Village and Teluk Lecah Village, Rupat District, and Tanjung Leban Village, Bandar Laksamana District.

In addition, in Indragiri Hilir Regency, the fire point is in Tanjung Pidada Village (Tempuling District). The flames also attacked Pulau Muda Village (Teluk Meranti District) in Pelalawan Regency. Meanwhile, in the Riau Islands Province, the karhutla occurred in Rempang Cate Village, Galang District, Batam City.

Until now, the Riau forest and land fires based on satellite image analysis by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, in the period January-February 2026 was 4,400 hectares and 94 percent were in the lowlands. Two districts with the largest forest and land fires are Pelalawan Regency and Bengkalis Regency in Riau.

Meanwhile, in Riau Islands, the forest fire area was recorded as 1,162.52 hectares.

"Pelalawan and Bengkalis regencies are currently our focus for extinguishing and prevention. All teams in the field continue to work intensively to control the situation and prevent the potential for the expansion of karhutla," said Ferdian Krisnanto.