OKU Karhutla Task Force Puts Out Land Fires In West Baturaja

BATURAJA - The Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU) Regency Karhutla Task Force, South Sumatra, extinguished land fires that occurred on Jalan Cor Batukuning, West Baturaja District.

The manager of the Operations Control Center for the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of OKU Regency, Gunalfi, said dozens of personnel from the Karhutla Task Force and one tank car were deployed to extinguish the land fires that occurred on Jalan Cor Batukuning.

Efforts to extinguish the land fire were hampered because the location of the fire was difficult for four-wheeled vehicles to pass.

"Not to mention we lack a fire fleet. There is only one unit of water supply cars that have to go back and forth to fill the water in the river so that it takes a long time to extinguish the fire," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, October 19.

However, these obstacles can be overcome. The land fire was successfully extinguished at around 17.30 WIB.

The area of land burned on Jalan Cor Batukuning is about one hectare.

"The cause is still being investigated," he said.

According to Gunalfi, forest and land fires occur almost every day in OKU Regency. The total area of land burned during the period August-October 2023 was recorded at more than 200 hectares.

"Our officers are overwhelmed in handling forest and land fires which occur almost every day. Moreover, the existing countermeasures are deemed inadequate," he said.

According to him, pump engines and hoses to extinguish existing fires have often been damaged.

"We also need additional water supply tank cars so that the handling of forest and land fires can be maximized," he said.