Banjarbaru Police Chief Affirms Forest And Land Fires In Liang Anggang Are Legal Cases

The Banjarbaru Police have installed a police line in the burned land area in Landasan Ulin Selatan Village, Liang Anggang District. (Between/Tumpal Andani Aritonang)

Banjarbaru Police Chief AKBP Dody Harza Kusumah confirmed that cases of forest and land fires or forest and land fires that occurred in the Liang Anggang sub-district, Banjarbaru City, South Kalimantan, in the last few days have entered law enforcement measures.

"Especially in Landasan Ulin Selatan Village, the location that caught fire has been given a police line for the investigation process," he told Antara in Banjarbaru, Sunday.

Dody stated that law enforcement measures are proof of his commitment to take firm action against any perpetrators of land burning.

Therefore, he asked the Criminal Investigation Unit to immediately increase its status to investigation if strong evidence was found leading to a crime so that the determination of the suspect was also carried out quickly.

"Do strict law enforcement, it is hoped that there will be a deterrent effect in every case of forest and land fires so that similar incidents do not happen again," he said.

Meanwhile, the Commander of the South Kalimantan BPBD Field Team Ricky Ferdyanto said that the area of land burned on Saturday (24/6) in the Banjarbaru area is estimated to be more than 20 hectares.

The fire, which continues to grow in an empty area of land around the South Ulin Runway, has made the road to the Pelaihari axis, Tanah Laut Regency, closed because thick smog reduces visibility.

The South Kalimantan BPBD Disaster Management Operations Control Center reported that the area of burned land in all areas of South Kalimantan reached 163.15 hectares as of Saturday (24/6) and Banjarbaru, which are important areas of Syamsudin Noor International Airport, which were severely affected by forest and land fires.