Jakarta, Clear Skies Magazine: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has expressed gratitude to military, police and other personnel engaged in combating forest and land fires across several parts of the country, while directing relevant agencies to intensify firefighting and prevention efforts.
Political and Security Affairs Coordinating Minister Dudung Abdurachman said the president praised the personnel working to contain the fires during a limited meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday.
“He expressed his gratitude to all personnel, including those from the military, police and every other component involved,” Dudung said after the meeting.
According to the minister, Prabowo is closely monitoring the situation and has instructed all relevant agencies to maximize their efforts to extinguish the fires as quickly as possible.
“The president’s target is to put out the fires as soon as possible. He is paying very close attention to this issue,” Dudung said, adding that the government received updates on firefighting operations in six provinces during the meeting.
Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra remain the primary areas of concern. In Central Kalimantan, fires have affected areas around Tanjung Puting National Park, which serves as a habitat for protected wildlife.
Firefighting operations have been complicated by thick smoke, which has reduced the effectiveness of aerial operations and made it difficult for aircraft to reach affected areas.
Consequently, authorities have increased their reliance on ground-based operations to reach fire hotspots, particularly in areas that are difficult to access.
“Ground operations mean fighting fires from the ground, as many areas are difficult to access,” Dudung explained.
To sustain the response, the government is rotating personnel to prevent exhaustion and ensure the continuity of firefighting activities. Troops from the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) have also been deployed, while military authorities are arranging personnel rotations in affected areas.
Alongside emergency operations, the government is strengthening preventive measures through coordination among the military, police, local administrations and surrounding communities.
Public awareness campaigns are being conducted to discourage activities that could trigger forest and land fires, while Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) is supporting firefighting operations.
Dudung also revealed that the government was preparing to establish a National Peatland and Mangrove Management Agency to improve the management and protection of peatland and mangrove ecosystems.
When asked whether the fires would be declared a national disaster, the minister said no such decision had been taken, as the government believed existing resources and response capabilities remained sufficient to manage the situation.
“No, not yet. We still have the capacity to handle it,” he said.
The government’s response combines immediate firefighting operations with personnel management, inter-agency coordination and preventive initiatives aimed at containing the fires and reducing the risk of further outbreaks.