BPBD Admits Every Day Receives Land Fire Reports In Belitung Babel

A Belitung BPBD leader monitors the burning land (ANTARA/Kasmono/Apriliansyah)

The Belitung Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) admits that every day they receive reports of land fires from people in their area. The fire was triggered by hot and windy weather conditions.

"Every day we receive at least one report of land fires, and even receive the same three reports a day," said Belitung BPBD Chief Executive Agus Supriadi in Tanjung Pandan, Belitung, Bangka Belitung Islands Province (Babel), Friday, August 16, as reported by Antara.

Reports directly submitted by the public, he said, generally land fires occur because the weather conditions are hot, so they are prone to fires.

"We calculate that from January to the end of July 2024 there were 19 cases of land fires with a burned area of more than tens of hectares," he said.

Of the 19 cases of the fire incident, he said, most cases of forest and land fires (karhutla), while for August data, there was no recapitulation input.

For this reason, BPBD Belitung has alerted three 24-hour picket teams and three fleets, two fire engines, and one water supply car.

"If areas prone to forest and land fires are in the Sijuk area, it is not because of peatlands, but more rooted plants, the same as last year," he said.

He reminded the public, especially those who often carry out activities in forest areas, to really take care and pay attention to environmental conditions.

"Don't burn the land for whatever reason, don't throw cigarette butts in the forest area. Small fires can easily burn dry shrubs," said Agus.