Jokowi's Order To Handle Karhutla: Flush The Small Fire, Do Not Use Water Bombing Due To Expensive Budget

President Joko Widodo (Setkab)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked the regional government from the governors, regents, mayors and their staffs to respond quickly in facing forest and land fires (karhutla). A quick response is important so that a small fire that can actually be solved is not getting bigger and difficult to control.

"Don't let the fire get bigger, don't be late so it will be difficult to control. This is important. Don't let the fire get bigger," said Jokowi while giving a briefing at the National Forestry and Land Fire Control Coordination Meeting at the State Palace which is broadcasted on YouTube account of the Presidential Secretariat, Monday, February 22.

He assessed that forest and land fires actually need to be responded quickly so that small fires do not get bigger and must be extinguished using the water bombing method. Because, this method requires a large budget.

"The small fire should be flushed totally. If needed, then water bombing and this has been done frequently, but if possible, don't. The small fire should be flushed off because water bombing requires a large budget," he said.

"But if it is already big, want it or not we will use it," he added.

Jokowi instructed all parties in the National Coordination Meeting to prioritize efforts to prevent forest and land fires. This needs to be done so that there are no bad things due to forest fires, such as happened in several countries.

"Even in big countries there are large incidents of fire, I think you all know that a city has caught fire. We really have to learn from things like this. Once again prioritize prevention, don't be late," he said.

Jokowi asked management in the field to be consolidated and coordinated. "This means that in the village if there is a small fire, should be immediately notified so that it can be handled at the front because when it is already big and we just find that out, difficult to extinguish," he concluded.