Strong Wind, Land Fire in West Aceh Spread to 10 Acres

Illustration of forest fires (ANTARA)

MEULABOH - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of West Aceh Regency stated that the fire incident that occurred in Lapang Village and Suak Raya Village, Johan Pahlawan District, Meulaboh, has now spread to 10 hectares from the previous area of nine hectares.

"The strong wind blowing at the location of the fire caused the fire to easily spread to other locations, but we are still trying to put out the fire until now," said Acting Head of the West Aceh Regency BPBD Teuku Ronald Nehdiansyah, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, 21.

The area of land burned included in Suak Raya Village, Johan Pahlawan District, about seven hectares, in Ujong Beurasok Hamlet, Lapang Village, Johan Pahlawan District, reaching three hectares.

Teuku Ronald said the heat of the sun and the air temperature throughout the day also caused the fire to easily spread, because the burned area was peat land.

The fire disaster has also caused a haze that interferes with people's breathing around the fire location, including in the Meulaboh area, the capital of West Aceh Regency.

Teuku Ronald said that at present, the fire continues to spread slowly and has the potential to spread further, because the wind blowing around the location of the incident is very strong so that officers have to work extra to put out the fire.

In carrying out fire extinguishing efforts, he said, the West Aceh BPBD was assisted by TNI and Polri personnel as well as the community around the fire location, in the hope that the spread of fire could be prevented to avoid the widespread fire of land in this area.