InfoSAWIT, TULANG BAWANG – A peatland fire near the Pidada River in Tulang Bawang Regency, Lampung Province, spread into the Bawang Sakti Plasma Oil Palm Plantation, Block V, in Panca Karsa Purna Jaya Village, Banjar Baru District. The blaze burned approximately four hectares of land and destroyed around 50 oil palm trees before being extinguished on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
The total financial losses from the incident have not yet been determined.
According to Tribratanews Polda Lampung, as reported by InfoSAWIT on Wednesday, October 21, the fire was discovered at around 11:30 a.m. local time after Suyitno, head of security at the Bawang Sakti Plasma plantation, received a phone call from a resident of Banjar Agung Village named Mudir. The resident reported a fire in the peatland along the Pidada River, bordering the oil palm plantation.
Suyitno contacted plantation security personnel, including Wisnu, who went to the site with Seprian. They found that the fire had already spread across the peatland and reached part of the plantation.
Information about the incident was then shared through the plantation employees' WhatsApp group, prompting workers to mobilize two company-owned firefighting tankers.
The Tulang Bawang Regency Fire Department also assisted in the response. Police officers Aiptu Mairizal Efendi and Aiptu Nyoman Jajak visited the location to inspect the scene and gather information about the incident.
Coordination between police, plantation employees, and firefighters helped bring the blaze under control.
Authorities Urge Residents to Avoid Land Burning
The incident highlights the risk of forest and land fires, particularly in peatland areas bordering oil palm plantations.
Police urged residents to report any fire hotspots immediately, especially in peatlands, plantation areas, and other fire-prone locations. Early reporting can help emergency teams respond quickly and prevent fires from spreading further.
Residents were also reminded not to clear or prepare land by burning. Even fires that initially appear manageable can spread rapidly under favorable conditions, causing environmental damage and financial losses for communities and plantation operators.
For oil palm plantations, the incident underscores the importance of routine monitoring, readily available firefighting equipment, and close coordination among companies, local communities, and authorities.
Tulang Bawang Police called on all stakeholders to remain vigilant, report emerging hotspots promptly, and help protect the environment across the regency. (T2)
