S Kalimantan on alert against forest and land fires

Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan 23/5 (AntaranewsKalsel) - The whole range of South Kalimantan Government is on alert against potential forest and land fires (karhutla) as dry season has hit some areas of the province.

"The provincial government of South Kalimantan is on alert and we are assisted by TNI (army) and Polri (police) personnel and other relevant agencies ready to anticipate karhutla," said South Kalimantan Governor Sahbirin Noor in Banjarbaru on Tuesday.

The governor was speaking after leading the karhutla alert ceremony which was attended by 1,350 participants consisting of TNI and Polri personnel and other related agencies including the South Kalimantan Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), SAR team, firefighter brigades, fire care society, Disaster Response Team (Tagana) volunteers, PMI and scout members.

According to the governor, the alert ceremony held as a form of commitment of all parties to anticipate and prevent forest and land fire that potentially hit due to drought conditions.

"All parties are ready to move and we ask the community also play a role to prevent fire by doing a quick extinguishing before the fire outgrows," he said.

He also asked the role of ulama and community leaders to provide awareness to all components of society in preventing fire.

The provincial government has also issued a circular for the head of the region, both regents and mayors to be alert in their areas to avoiding the disaster.

"We ask the regents and mayors to participate in disaster preparedness through BPBD which is always ready to coordinate with relevant agencies and anticipate the potential of fire," he said.