Joint Team Extinguishes Samosir's Siarubung Forest Fire

The atmosphere of the protected forest of Siarubung with an area of about 300 hectares in Samosir Regency, North Sumatra. BETWEEN ANTARA/HO-The Environment and Forestry Office of North Sumatra Province.

JAKARTA - The North Sumatra Provincial Government stated that a joint team was extinguishing the fire for the Siarubung protected forest with an area of about 300 hectares in Samosir Regency.

"The area of forest fires is around 250-300 hectares, currently the team is extinguishing the remnants of the fire in the protected forest," said Head of the North Sumatra Province Environment and Forestry Service (DLHK) Yuliani Siregar as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, July 16.

Yuliani explained that the officers who carried out the blackout included the Regional XIII Forest Management Unit (KPH), North Sumatra LHK Service, Manggala Agni, Provsu BPBD, Samosir Regency BPBD, and the local community.

The current condition of the protected forest in the protected forest area of Siarubung, he said, the fire was relatively extinguished, only smoke was thought to be left over from the fire.

The protected forest fire which is at coordinates 2°34'10.2" N, 98$39'36.6" E began to occur on Sunday (14/7) until today.

"From the location of the topography, the forest protected area that caught fire was hilly and steep with the conditions of shrubs, pine trees, and dry land farming," said Yuliani.

He also said that the joint team is currently carrying out monitoring patrols and conducting sweeps in the burning forest area.

The protected forest is located in the administrative area of Sipitudai Village, Boho Village in Sianjurmulumula District, Turpuk Limbong Village, Harian District in Samosir Regency.

"The current weather conditions are sunny and windy, therefore the potential for new hotspots to emerge," he said.

Meanwhile, Samosir Police Chief AKBP Yogie Hardiman said the cause of the forest fire was still under investigation by the Samosir Police Satreskrim Tipidter Unit.