Ground crews most effective in battling fires: Prabowo

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that ground firefighting crews remain far more effective at combating forest and peatland fires than aerial water-bombing helicopters, urging pre-disaster infrastructure readiness ahead of outbreaks.

Speaking during a meeting with peatland and fire management experts at the State Palace on Friday, Prabowo stressed that physical mitigation infrastructure must be established well before dry seasons trigger blazes.

"With all kinds of helicopters, ground personnel remain the most effective," Prabowo said in a video broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat.

"Firefighting units must be ready. Long before a fire breaks out, build reservoirs, reservoirs, reservoirs. Before there's even a fire, prepare pumps, pumps, pumps. Get everything ready."

The president requested scientific input on long-term peatland management and sustainable agricultural uses to make fire-prone lands productive without relying on clearing by fire.

The directives come as the Ministry of Forestry redirects suppression resources toward Central Kalimantan, where active hotspots jumped sharply from 643 to 673 within 24 hours.

West Kalimantan also recorded a surge from 50 to 167 hotspots.

By contrast, fire counts dropped in South Sumatra (17 to 11) and South Kalimantan (68 to 23), according to official data released Sept. 24.

"Our main focus remains Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan," Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said.

Translator: Aditya, Kenzu
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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