BPBD Bulungan Records a Number of Karhutla, Residents Asked to Stop Burning

FOTO IST

TANJUNG SELOR - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Bulungan Regency, North Kalimantan (Kaltara), has recorded a number of forest and land fires (karhutla) in recent days.

Acting Head of the BPBD Bulungan Task Force, Widi Kustanto, said the extreme weather conditions that hit the Bulungan area made land fires potentially spread quickly.

"The Bulungan Regency Government (Pemkab) asks the community to stop burning land activities," said Widi, Friday, August 14.

Widi reminded the public to increase vigilance and not burn land in extreme weather conditions.

"During this extreme weather, we avoid burning, so that the impact does not spread and harm others," he said.

BPBD Bulungan recorded four fire points detected on Monday, August 10. The fire points were in Tanjung Agung Village and Tanah Kuning Village, East Tanjung Palas District and East Tanjung Selor Village and Apung Village, Tanjung Selor District.

"BPBD officers and related elements immediately handled the case after receiving the report. The team coordinated with the North Kalimantan Provincial BPBD, Manggala Agni, TNI, Polri, and other devices. BPBD personnel and units immediately went down with full strength," he explained.

He revealed that the extinguishing and cooling process lasted until around 22.00 WITA. Officers prioritized locations around settlements to prevent the fire from spreading and threatening the community.

"A similar incident occurred again on Thursday (13/8). BPBD handled land fires in a number of locations in the Tanjung Selor area. Such as in Gang Aktawa, Jalan Diponegoro, RT 19/RW 04, Selimau 1, Tanjung Selor Timur Village," said Widi.

"The fire was reported at around 14.00 WITA. The BPBD team together with related elements immediately headed to the location to carry out the fire," he continued.

Then, a fire also occurred on Jalan Bukit Indah, the Korpri Housing area, RT 35, Tanjung Selor Hilir Village. Land measuring approximately 0.5 hectares was burned at around 13.00 WITA.

"Based on the information from residents, the fire was allegedly caused by burning land for cleaning the area to be used to build houses," he said.

He added, BPBD together with the Bulungan Police again carried out a blackout and gave a warning regarding the danger of burning land.

"Land fires were also reported in the area behind the Tanjung Selor Central Market, RT 52/RW 20. The fire was extinguished by Damkar Bulungan personnel together with residents before spreading to the settlement," added Widi.

BPBD Bulungan again reminded the public not to burn land, especially during extreme weather conditions.

"The public is also asked to immediately report the location of the fire so that it can be handled quickly and not develop into a larger karhutla," he concluded.