Commemoration Of Forest And Land Fires In NTT Takes Effect Today, BMKG Wants Soil Surface Layer To Be Highly Flammable

Illustration of fighting forest and land fires or forest and land fires. (Between)

NTT - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned that the early warning of forest and land fires (karhutla) in all areas of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) will take effect today, Wednesday, July 20.

Head of the BMKG El Tari Kupang Meteorological Station, Agung Sudiono Abadi, appealed to the public to be aware of the potential for forest and land fires in NTT.

"All areas in NTT have red status or it is very easy for forest and land fires to occur, so the public needs to be aware," Agung said in his written statement, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, July 20.

Agung emphasized the vulnerability of forest and land fires in NTT. According to him, the level of flammability of the soil surface layer in NTT is very flammable, and it is experienced by 22 regencies/cities throughout NTT

He said that the conditions of the reeds and leaves that usually cover the forest floor are dry and highly flammable.

Agung also asked the public not to carry out activities that trigger the emergence of hotspots as an effort to be aware of and prevent the threat of forest and land fires.

He explained that generally forest and land fires occur as a result of intentional or unintentional activities, such as clearing land by burning.

In fact, he said, throwing cigarette butts in open areas where there are piles of grass or dry leaves that are easily caught by fire can potentially trigger forest and land fires.

He added that the conditions of strong winds that are dry during the dry season can make it difficult for hotspots to appear so that they are easy to spread, as a result, making forest and land fires more difficult to handle.

"Community activities that cause hotspots need to be avoided because there is a high risk of triggering forest and land fires," he concluded.