Forestry Minister Conducts Nighttime Fire Inspection in Central Kalimantan Amid Severe Nationwide Blazes

Minister Conducts Night Inspection of Fire Site

Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni arrived at a fire site on Jalan Ir Soekarno in Baamang Tengah, Kotawaringin Timur Regency, Central Kalimantan, on Saturday night at approximately 7:00 PM local time to personally oversee forest and land fire suppression operations.

The visit comes as Indonesia confronts one of its most severe fire seasons in recent years, with an estimated 1.47 million hectares burned nationwide as of October 2026. Central Kalimantan alone has recorded 3,511 hotspots and 67 active fire spots as of October 9, prompting provincial authorities to maintain an Emergency Alert through October 31 covering districts including Kotawaringin Timur.

Government Commits Full Firefighting Resources

During the inspection, Raja Juli assessed conditions on the charred terrain and observed ongoing extinguishing operations. He emphasized the government's commitment to deploying all available firefighting capabilities.

"We will maximize aerial efforts with water bombing, dry ice, and weather modification operations, as well as ground personnel because this is extremely important," the minister stated.

Severe Public Health Impact

The fires pose severe public health risks across the region. Palangka Raya, the provincial capital, has experienced hazardous air quality in mid-October, with PM2.5 concentrations reaching nearly five times the threshold for the highest pollution category and air quality indices reportedly soaring to 1,023.

Presidential Aid Allocated for Fire Management

Raja Juli urged local government officials to make full use of presidential assistance totaling 15 billion rupiah allocated specifically for fire management in Kotawaringin Timur. He indicated additional support could be provided if needed.

"Yesterday, the President has allocated 15 billion rupiah presidential aid for Kotim, please make the most of it. If it is still insufficient, we can also provide additional partial support where needed," said the Indonesian Solidarity Party politician.

Protecting Critical Areas and Peatlands

The inspection in Kotawaringin Timur, home to approximately 452,870 residents across 15,543.82 square kilometers, followed three days of firefighting leadership by Raja Antoni at Tanjung Puting National Park in neighboring Kotawaringin Barat Regency. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, established in 1982 and home to over 6,000 orangutans, has also faced fire threats during this season.

The minister stressed that peatland fires require specialized handling to prevent reignition. Indonesia has approximately 24.2 million hectares of peatland, of which 16.4 million hectares have been degraded and remain vulnerable to fire. These fires can burn underground for extended periods, making them particularly challenging to extinguish completely.

Climate Conditions Intensify Fire Season

Climate conditions have intensified this year's fire season. A strong El Niño and positive Indian Ocean Dipole have suppressed rainfall and elevated fire risk, with blazes continuing for a fourth consecutive month as of October.

Multi-Agency Coordination

Multiple agencies are coordinating suppression efforts in Sampit, the capital of Kotawaringin Timur. The Manggala Agni brigade, a specialized firefighting force established by the Ministry of Forestry in 2003 with approximately 2,376 personnel deployed across 34 operational areas nationwide, is working alongside military personnel, police, the Regional Disaster Management Agency, Fire Care Communities, and volunteers.

Raja Antoni instructed all personnel to ensure complete fire extinguishment and maintain continuous monitoring to detect any renewed burning in affected areas.

The inspection was attended by Kotawaringin Timur Regent Halikinnor, East Kotim Police Chief AKBP I Kadek Dwi Yoga Sidhimantra, 1015 Sampit Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Inf. Dwi Candra Setyawan, and several local government officials including Assistant II Hawianan, BPBD Head Imam Subekti, and heads of various regional agencies.