Emergency Response Of Forest And Land Fires In OKI, South Sumatra, 4 Water Bombing Helicopters Deployed

Illustration of forest and land fires extinguishing using helicopters or water bombings. (Between-Nova W)

SOUTH Sumatra (Sumsel) Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) deployed four water bombing helicopters or water bombers to extinguish forest and land fires (karhutla) in Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) Regency.

"A total of six units of water bombing helicopters are owned for the South Sumatra forest and land fires operation, four of which we operate at the OKI forest and land fires that have occurred during the period August to September 2023," said Head of the South Sumatra BPBD Emergency Management Division Ansori when contacted, Monday, September 18, confiscated by Antara.

He said the existence of hotspots as a sign of kagurtla in OKI Regency was still the biggest problem with forest and land fires in South Sumatra this time because it was quite extensive.

"There are still some points where forest and land fires occur, such as in the Pangkalan Lampam sub-district, Cengal sub-district, Tulung Selapan sub-district, Pampangan sub-district, and Pedamaran sub-district," he said.

He hopes that with the operation of the four water bomber helicopters, forest and land fires in OKI can be resolved soon, while the problem of smog in South Sumatra is resolved.

In addition to the operation of the four water bomber helicopters, at the OKI a duo was also established to handle forest and land fires.

"One post of forest and land fires from Manggala Agni and another from the South Sumatra Police," he said.

However, he regretted that the hotspots were quite far away and took up to an hour for helicopters to get to the location. In addition, the water source for extinguishing is also limited.

Previously, OKI Regent Iskandar said the OKI Regency Government had raised the status of handling forest and land fires from alert to emergency response.

"This status is so that we will be all out (total) of all lines, both from prevention, handling efforts in the field and in terms of funding," he said.

OKI Regency with the widest peat area in South Sumatra, he said, is a challenge in handling forest and land fires.

"What caught fire was land outside the concessions of companies and forest and peat areas, making it difficult to extinguish," he said.

However, he said, as agreed three to five kilometers of concession areas are still the responsibility of the company to protect against forest and land fires.

He said the concentration of hotspots in OKI currently comes from five sub-districts, namely Pampangan, Lampam Base, Kayuagung Segun Area, Pedamaran, and Tulung Selapan.