Riau Police Found 143 Hotspots, Obstacles Are Hot Weather And Distant Water Sources

Riau Police Chief Inspector General Pol Agung Setya Imam Effendi (right) resting amidst efforts to extinguish the forest and land fires in Riau Province. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Riau Police Chief Inspector General Setya Imam Effendi said that there were 143 hotspots in Riau Province on Saturday, February 20 based on satellite monitoring.

From the results of field verification, the Riau Regional Police found 143 hotspots or fires originating from 147 hotspots with details of 122 medium hotspots and 25 high hotspots.

"There are a total of 143 hotspots or fires from 147 hotspots," said Inspector General.

From these 147 hotspots, the Riau Police found five hotspots originating from industrial activities.

In addition, his party also found a hotspot that was not monitored by satellite.

"Hotspots were found or fires that were not monitored by satellite in Siak Regency, precisely in Mempura," said the two-star general.

A total of 143 hotspots were found in four districts, namely Pelalawan Regency with 103 hotspots, Indragiri Hilir Regency 29 hotspots, Meranti Islands Regency 10 hotspots, and Siak Regency with one hotspot.

The Riau Police conducted fire suppression through the coordinator of forest and land fire suppression activities at the Regional Headquarters by directing the extinguishing process at the location of the hotspot.

"Until now, all hotspots have been extinguished and efforts are still being made to cool down at several hotspots," he said.

The former Director of Special Economic Crimes at the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police said that some of the obstacles faced in extinguishing land and forest fires in the field include hot weather, strong winds and changing directions, access to hotspots that are far from the Land and Forest Fire Command Post, water sources far from the fire, the condition of land that is overgrown with shrubs or has peat and dry structure.

The ranks of the Riau Regional Police also carry out preventive and pre-emptive activities in the form of socializing the Riau Police Chief's Decree so that people do not burn forests and land.