Fire In Riau National Park Extinguished After 16 Water Bombings

PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

PEKANBARU - The fire in Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, Riau in Batang Gansal, Indragiri Hulu Regency was extinguished after a joint team made various efforts including water bombing.

The land and air task force team as well as Riau Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) officers and a number of local residents made various efforts to extinguish the fire.

"The fire in the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park occurred two days ago and the fire was extinguished with 16 water booms, but now Monday (26/7) the air task force team has again found a different hotspot but it is still in the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park. " said Head of the Riau Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), M Edy Afrizal in Pekanbaru, quoted by Antara, Monday, July 26.

He said that at one point another location, he said, which was also burned, was found today, a helicopter had been dispatched to carry out water bombing to extinguish the fire.

Edy said the fire had been successfully extinguished by the land and air task force team, and the cause of the national park fire was suspected to be activities or land clearing activities for plantation businesses.

"I think the fire in the national park is due to the activities of unscrupulous residents, because it is impossible for the forest to just burn, there must be land clearing activities for new plantations," continued Edy.

Previously, Riau Governor Syamsuar reminded his people not to open land by burning, because it violated the law and could be punished with imprisonment.

"People who are going to plant or garden should open new land according to the procedure or not take shortcuts by burning shrubs so that eventually it will have a wide impact. If it does not follow the procedure, it will be handled by law enforcement," said Syamsuar

He explained that the forest and land fires (karhutla) that occurred in the Riau region were mostly carried out by people who would clear land for plantations and agriculture.

The current police force will also take firm action against anyone who arsons land, both citizens and corporations.

Governor Syamsuar has also asked law enforcement and the Riau Karhutla Task Force (Satgas) to arrest people burning land in the Riau region, because it is suspected that the action was intentional to clear plantation land.