Antara News·Indonesia·Monday, October 19, 2026 at 08:56 AM UTC

BNPB pushes health checks for frontline firefighters

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M Riezko, Raka Adji

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has emphasized the need to prioritize the health, safety, and regular medical checkups of frontline personnel battling forest and land fires.

BNPB Head Kristomei Sianturi said in a statement on Monday that he recommended comprehensive medical examinations—including chest X-rays—for frontline firefighters, given their heavy exposure to smoke during firefighting operations.

"If necessary, we should get them chest X-rays. They deserve proper care," he said during a coordination meeting on fire responses in Palembang, South Sumatra.

To streamline tactical operations, the BNPB head also pushed for joint operational posts set up based on hotspot clusters, with each post required to have a clear regional commander, a task assignment map, and a confirmed tally of deployed personnel and equipment.

Accountability and data accuracy at these field posts must be strictly enforced. Reported staffing numbers must reflect the actual conditions on the ground to ensure that those working hard receive proper protection and support.

According to Ministry of Health and BNPB data through early October, haze from forest and land fires has triggered hundreds of severe respiratory cases, including acute respiratory infections.

The fires have left 324 people severely injured, 23 with minor injuries, and four dead.

Among the casualties were Hardiansyah (41), an online motorcycle taxi driver in Palembang, South Sumatra; Lisna, a teacher in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan; and Fikri (51), a resident of Tulung Selapan in Ogan Komering Ilir district, South Sumatra, who died while attempting to extinguish a blaze.

Four additional deaths were reported in a forest fire on Mount Bromo, within the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS). The incident occurred on Thursday (Oct. 16) in Pusung Lingker, located in Ngadirejo Village, Sukapura Sub-district, Probolinggo, East Java.

The victims who died at the scene were local hotel volunteer workers Sefril and Wisnu, as well as TNBTS officer Sukaris. Another TNBTS officer, Hendra Roni, later died at Tongas Regional Hospital.

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