InfoSAWIT, KAYONG UTARA – Efforts to contain forest and land fires in Kayong Utara, West Kalimantan, are being carried out through a coordinated response involving government agencies, security forces, local communities and plantation companies.

The cross-sector operation is aimed at accelerating firefighting efforts while preventing fires from spreading across vulnerable areas.

Citing Antara on Thursday, September 10, 2026, InfoSAWIT reported that Ponty Wijaya, head of the Technical Implementation Unit of the Kayong Forest Management Unit (UPT KPH Wilayah Kayong), emphasized the need for a rapid and coordinated response to forest and land fires.

One of the firefighting locations is Mata-Mata Village, Kayong Utara. Personnel from the UPT KPH Wilayah Kayong, the Indonesian Military (TNI), National Police (Polri), local communities and companies have joined forces to tackle the fires.

According to Ponty, support from the private sector has strengthened firefighting capacity on the ground. Companies have not only provided equipment and logistical support but have also deployed their own personnel to assist directly with firefighting operations.

“We appreciate the support from the companies. They have deployed personnel directly to help with firefighting, along with firefighting equipment and infrastructure,” Ponty said.

Companies Mobilize Personnel and Equipment

The involvement of businesses highlights the role plantation companies can play in responding to environmental emergencies, particularly when fires require resources to be mobilized quickly.

The operation involves the Kayong Forest Management Unit, TNI, Polri, local communities and Artha Graha Peduli, through PT Cipta Usaha Sejati and PT Jalin Vaneo.

Firefighting efforts have extended beyond Mata-Mata Village, with teams also moving into several other villages around Simpang Hilir District where fires have the potential to spread.

The scale of the response makes coordination between institutions particularly important. Each stakeholder can address different needs in the field, ranging from personnel and firefighting equipment to monitoring and information on fire-prone locations.

Local Communities Play a Key Role

Local residents are also an important part of the firefighting strategy.

Because communities live close to areas vulnerable to fires, they are often among the first to detect smoke or flames. Early information from residents can allow authorities and firefighting teams to respond before a fire develops into a larger incident.

Rapid reporting is therefore critical in limiting the spread of fires, particularly in areas where access and terrain can make firefighting operations more difficult.

The cooperation between government agencies, security forces, companies and communities demonstrates the importance of a collective response when dealing with forest and land fires.

Prevention Becomes the Next Priority

While firefighting remains the immediate priority, authorities are also emphasizing prevention and preparedness.

Measures can include joint patrols in fire-prone areas, land-condition monitoring, early detection, community education and improved readiness of personnel and firefighting equipment.

Prevention is particularly important because responding to fires during their early stages allows available resources to be deployed more efficiently and can reduce potential damage to forests and surrounding ecosystems.

The forest and land fires reported in Kayong Utara are another reminder that protecting vulnerable landscapes requires cooperation among multiple stakeholders.

The government, through the KPH, security forces, local communities and private companies each have different but complementary roles in responding to fire threats.

The UPT KPH Wilayah Kayong said it would continue strengthening coordination with relevant stakeholders to improve preparedness and reinforce both prevention and firefighting systems across its working area.

With stronger coordination beginning at the prevention stage, authorities hope that fire hotspots can be detected and addressed more quickly, reducing the risk of fires developing into larger disasters. (T1)