Fire Scorches 25 Hectares Of Protected Forest Area In Central Aceh, Cause Still Investigating

Documentation - Protected forest fire in Mendele Utung -Utung Village, Kebayakan District, Central Aceh (ANTARA/HO)

ACEH - The Aceh Disaster Management Agency (BPBA) stated that 25 hectares of protected forest in Central Aceh Regency had been burned. The last condition of the fire point has been successfully extinguished.

BPBA Chief Executive Ilyas said, protected forest fires in a number of points in the Mendele Village area, Kebayakan District, Central Aceh had occurred since last Thursday. The fire quickly spread to other points because it was difficult for officers to reach the location.

“The total protected forest burned was about 25 hectares. The latest condition from the Central Aceh BPBD Pusdalops is that the fire has been extinguished," said Ilyas in Banda Aceh, Antara, Friday, October 15.

Since the fire was reported, the Central Aceh BPBD has continued to try to extinguish it by deploying a number of officers and two fire fighting units. The effort to extinguish the fire was also assisted by TNI-Polri personnel and the local community.

"The cause of this fire is still under investigation," said Ilyas.

As of Thursday night, it was reported that 19.5 hectares of protected forest had been burned at several points in the Central Aceh region. However, the hotspots continued to expand to reach 25 hectares on Friday afternoon.

Hotspots continue to expand because access to the scene is difficult. In fact, said Ilyas, there were several hotspots that were about 4-8 kilometers from the main post to the location of the fire. Water sources that are far away make it difficult for officers to extinguish the fire.