OKU BPBD Puts Out Forest And Land Fires On Jalan Axis Baturaja-Prabumulih

The Karhutla Task Force extinguished land fires in OKU Regency, South Sumatra, Monday. (ANTARA/Edo Purmana/23)

BATURAJA - BPBD personnel from Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU) Regency, South Sumatra extinguished forest and land fires (karhutla) near the Batukuning concrete cor axis road connecting Baturaja City with Prabumulih so as not to cause smog.

"Based on community reports, this land fire incident occurred this afternoon at around 16.00 WIB," said Manager of the Pusdalops of the OKU Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Gunalfi in Baturaja as reported by ANTARA, Monday, September 18.

It is suspected that the incident was caused by cigarette butts that were dumped by residents carelessly in the dry bush that triggered the fire of forest and land fires.

The forest and land fires incident burned an area of five hectares, which is located only a few meters from the main road.

In extinguishing the fire, his party deployed dozens of task force personnel to extinguish the fire so as not to cause smog to disturb motorists crossing the route.

Luckily, the fire was quickly extinguished after his party dispatched a water tanker from BPBD OKU to the scene to extinguish the fire.

The blackout process was accelerated after his party was assisted by a fire engine and water canon belonging to the OKU Police who helped extinguish the fire.

"After officers in the field struggled for about an hour, the fire was finally extinguished," he said.

Even though the fire had been extinguished, his party still alerted personnel at the disaster site to anticipate the re-emergence of forest and land firespots.

"We also remind the public not to throw cigarette butts carelessly, especially on dry land that is flammable during the dry season," he said.