Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The South Kalimantan Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD Kalsel) said that Governor H Muhidin has proposed assistance of five water bombing helicopters to handle forest and land fires (karhutla) during dry season in 2025.
"In addition to water bombing, the Governor asked the National Disaster Mitigantion Agency (BNPB) for assistance of two helicopters for fire patrols," said Head of Disaster Prevention and Preparedness of the BPBD Bambang Dedi Mulydi here on Monday.
Bambang hopes the central government would agree to this request so that fires prevention can be optimal for areas that are difficult to reach by land access.
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Especially, empty land around Syamsudin Noor Airport often burns and causes haze that can disrupt flights.
BNPB Chief Suharyanto stated in Jakarta on Wednesday (April 30, 2025), as reported by Antaranews,com that the seven provinces most vulnerable to forest and land fires are Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and East Kalimantan.
According to him, those provinces face a high risk of forest and peatland fires, so each will receive handling assistance from the Desk Karhutla (coordinating desk for forest and land fires).
Bambang said that based on BMKG prediction the peak of the dry season to occur in August 2025.
To this end, the agency, assisted by TNI-Polri, is ready to face the threat of forest and land fires with the strength of the existing personnel and supporting equipment to extinguish hotspots.
"For locations can be reached by land access, we can be optimally handling the fire, but spots that are difficult to reach require helicopter assistance," he expounded.
Bambang also reminded people not to burn to clear the land.
What ever the reason, land burning is not justified and legal sanctions are ready to be imposed on perpetrators.
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