Anticipating Forest And Land Fires In The Dry Season, Rejang Lebong Regency Government Prepares 12 Fire Fleets

Illustration of forest fires (ANTARA)

REJANG LEBONG - The Fire Department (Damkar) of Rejang Lebong Regency, Bengkulu Province alerted 12 fleets and hundreds of personnel to anticipate the possibility of forest and land fires (karhutla) in the area.

Head of the Rejang Lebong Fire Department, Ferry Najamudin, said that currently the local area has entered the dry season so that it is possible that fire hazards in residential areas, forests and land could occur at any time.

"Currently we have alerted five posts, first at the Rejang Lebong Damkar headquarters and four other posts spread over four sub-districts. For the fleet we have prepared as many as 12 units, where for sub-district there is one unit of fleet and the rest at headquarters," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, May 25.

He explained that their fire fleet consisted of nine fire engines (MPK), three tank cars that functioned as water supplyers, and four fire engines.

140 personnel were stationed at the Rejang Lebong Damkar headquarters in Curup City and four Fire Stations in Sindang Kelingi District, Padang Ulak Tanding, Padang City, and Bermani Ulu Raya.

With the current dry season, his party has increased vigilance due to dry field conditions so that the potential for fires, both residential and forest and land, will increase.

Areas prone to forest and land fires, in a number of sub-districts in the Lembak area, such as Padang Ulak Tanding District, Padang City, Sindang Beliti Ulu, Sindang Beliti Ilir because the climate is hotter than other sub-districts in Rejang Lebong.

Forest and land fires also often occur in Bermani Ulu and Bermani Ulu Raya sub-districts, where this area has Kerinci Seblat National Park (TNKS).

"We urge the public not to throw cigarette butts carelessly, then do not burn garbage and do not open gardens by burning because this can cause forest and land fires," said Ferry Najamudin.