BPBD Grateful For Rain To Help Handling Forest And Land Fires In Belitung

Illustration of BPBD officers extinguishing forest and land fires. (Antaranews)

BABEL - BPBD is grateful that the rain that fell on Sunday, September 17 helped deal with forest and land fires or forest and land fires in Belitung Regency, Bangka Belitung (Babel).

"Alhamdulillah, rain for approximately an hour can help deal with forest and land fires even though it rains with light intensity," said the Head of the Belitung BPBD Daily Executive, Agus Supriadi in Tanjung Pandan, Monday, September 18, as reported by Antara.

According to him, although it did not last long, the rain was able to wet areas or areas that were vulnerable and had a high risk of burning such as dried weeds and peatlands.

At the time of the rain on the day, he said, his party did not receive reports of forest and land fires because it was caused by rain in the area.

"So it was clear that the rain that fell yesterday helped the handling of forest and land fires in Belitung. At least the peatlands that have been dry are flammable finally wet because of the rain," he said.

He said that BPBD recorded 111 incidents of forest and land fires in Belitung until September. Even though there has been light rain, the public must remain vigilant and preserve forest areas to prevent fires.

As long as it has not entered the rainy season, the potential threat of forest and land fires is still happening. People should not burn garbage carelessly, especially those near forest areas.

"Don't throw cigarette butts in the forest, including avoiding opening plantation areas by burning. We hope that it will soon enter the rainy season so that there will be no fires in forest and land areas," he said.