Prevent Forest Fires, Riau Islands Provincial Government Asks People Not To Burn Waste

The condition of the forest fire along the left and right of Jalan Batubi - Kelarik in Semala, Natuna, Riau Islands, Tuesday (17/1). (ANTARA)

TANJUNGPINANG - Riau Islands Provincial Government (Kepri Provincial Government) asked residents to help prevent forest fires after the northern wind season. Head of the Riau Islands Provincial Disaster Management Agency (BPBD Riau) Muhammad Hasbi in Tanjungpinang, Tuesday, said that the northern wind season that occurred from October 2022 to early February 2023, caused various disasters such as tidal floods, tornadoes and high sea waves in Natuna Waters, Anambas Islands, Bintan and Karimun waters. After the northern wind season, he said, the sea waves began to slope, the tides were not high, and there was no rain accompanied by strong winds. However, after the northern wind season, residents had to be aware of the opportunity for forest fires. "Since a few days ago the wind was still strong and there was no rain. This dry weather condition can cause fires if there was a trigger," said Hasbi. He appealed to the public not to burn the garbage because it could cause fires. The garbage should be thrown into the garbage shelter provided by the government. In addition, the public is also expected not to throw cigarette butts carelessly because it can cause fires. Several cases of forest fires in a number of areas in Bintan last year are caused by cigarette butts. "Don't burn garbage in the garden or around the yard because it can cause fires. This has happened repeatedly," he said.An estimated Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Tanjungpinang Arif Dwi Yuliani said, the weather conditions were sunny this morning, while the afternoon until night was cloudy. Wind speeds reached 5-25 km/hours, with air temperatures reaching 31 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, sea wave heights in Tanjungpinang, Batam and Karimun reached 1.25 meters, Bintan and Lingga 1.5 meters, as well as the Anambas and Natuna Islands Waters reached 2 meters. "Based on our monitoring, no hot spots on Bintan Island were found," he said.