Minister Of Home Affairs Instructs Regional Heads To Be Alert To Face Potential Forest And Land Fires

JAKARTA - Minister of Home Affairs Muhammad Tito Karnavian instructed regional heads, from governors to regents/mayors throughout Indonesia to be prepared to face potential forest and land fires this year.

Director General of Regional Administration Development Safrizal ZA conveyed that the instruction was published by Tito in the Instruction of the Minister of Home Affairs (Inmendagri) Number 1 of 2023 concerning Regional Government Preparedness in the Implementation of Forest and Land Fire Disaster Management.

Inmedagri emphasized the importance of the active role of local governments, especially governors and regents/mayors as leaders of the Karhutla Task Force to be prepared to face potential forest and land fires by involving all components in the regions, including the community.

"The development of forest and land fires disasters cannot be carried out partially, let alone sectoral egos because the events often cross provincial and district/city administrative boundaries. Therefore, the intensive coordination of local governments with ministries/agencies and forkopimda ranks and community participation as the basis is absolute to be carried out," said Safrizal, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, May 23.

The Minister of Home Affairs' instructions contain anticipatory steps that can be taken by local governments in the field so that they can mitigate the risk of disasters as early as possible.

"This Ministry of Home Affairs has compiled systematic steps, ranging from prevention efforts to countermeasures. Therefore, continue joint patrols to prevent and monitor hotspots by utilizing satellite technology and field checks, intensify socialization, counseling and campaigns to prohibit land clearing by burning," he explained.

The Minister of Home Affairs also asked regional heads to immediately activate the forest and land fires disaster posts in provinces and districts/cities if the emergency alert status of forest and land fires is set.

Through this Inmendagri, Minister of Home Affairs Tito also asked regional heads to ensure the optimal allocation of the APBD for the prevention and control of forest and land fires disasters.

Safrizal then left a message to all regional heads to be committed to increasing community empowerment in the prevention and control of forest and land fires by optimizing the formation and active role of Fire Volunteers (Redkar).

"Redkar is a community-based social organization that voluntarily participates in realizing environmental resilience from the dangers of fires, including forest and land fires," he said.