JAMBI | INDATANEWS.COM - A joint response team comprising the Firefighting Unit (Regu Pemadam Kebakaran/RPK) of APP Group company PT Wirakarya Sakti (WKS), the Fire-Aware Community group (Masyarakat Peduli Api/MPA), local residents, PT EWF, the Indonesian Military (TNI), and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) has tackled a forest and land fire in Manis Mato Village, Muaro Jambi Regency, Jambi Province.
The team began firefighting operations after drone monitoring detected signs of a fire. The personnel then assessed the situation at the site and mobilized personnel and equipment to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading to surrounding areas.
The fire occurred on community agricultural land covered by leaf litter, shrubs, and oil palm vegetation. Given the vegetation conditions at the site, the team had to act quickly to contain the flames while also preventing new fire hotspots from emerging in the surrounding area.
25 Personnel Deployed to the Fire Site
A total of 25 personnel were directly involved in firefighting operations in Manis Mato Village. They consisted of eight RPK members from PT WKS, one MPA member, three local residents, 10 PT EWF employees, two TNI personnel, and one police officer.
In addition to personnel, the team brought various types of equipment to support the firefighting operation. The equipment included a Tohatsu engine unit, five rolls of 1.5-inch fire hose, one nozzle, one set of manual firefighting equipment, three motorcycles, and one double-cabin vehicle.
The availability of personnel and equipment facilitated mobilization to the site while also accelerating efforts to contain the fire. The team coordinated the use of available resources according to conditions on the ground to ensure that firefighting operations could be carried out effectively.
Coordination among the various agencies and groups involved was an important part of the operation. Each unit carried out its respective responsibilities according to conditions and requirements at the site, with the aim of bringing the fire under control and preventing it from spreading to a wider area.
The personnel continued firefighting and monitoring operations until the fire was brought under control on September 29, 2026. The team then continued monitoring the area to ensure that no embers or remaining heat sources were left behind that could potentially trigger another fire.
ALL PARTIES PREPARED FOR FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS:
PT WKS Head of Public Relations Taufik Qurochman emphasizes the importance of preparedness, rapid verification, and coordination among the parties involved in responding to forest and land fires. (PHOTO: Dalil Harahap)
Early Detection Through Drone Technology
PT WKS Head of Public Relations Taufik Qurochman said the firefighting operation in Manis Mato Village demonstrated the importance of preparedness and coordination among various parties in responding to forest and land fires.
"Controlling forest and land fires requires joint action. When signs of a fire are detected, rapid verification, personnel and equipment readiness, and coordination on the ground are crucial so that the fire can be dealt with immediately and prevented from spreading, particularly to more vulnerable areas such as peatlands," Taufik said.
According to Taufik, the company will continue supporting joint efforts involving the government, TNI-Polri, communities, and other relevant parties through patrols, monitoring, and the availability of operational resources in the field.
"Cooperation must continue to be strengthened because firefighting cannot be handled by a single party. What matters is that all parties involved are able to act quickly and coordinate when necessary," he added.
The use of drones also supports early detection and area monitoring. The technology enables the team to obtain initial information about potential fires, allowing personnel to immediately conduct verification and determine the necessary measures at the site.
The use of monitoring technology also helps expand the area under surveillance, particularly in locations with a higher risk of fire. The monitoring information collected serves as one of the team's references in identifying areas requiring greater attention and further inspection.
MONITORING THE FIRE WITH DRONES: A joint response team uses drones for monitoring as part of early detection and verification of fire signs in the area of Manis Mato Village. (PHOTO: Dalil Harahap)
Cooperation Strengthened to Prevent Fire Spread
The response to the forest and land fire in Manis Mato Village demonstrates the involvement of multiple parties in managing fires in the field. RPK
PT WKS, MPA, local residents, PT EWF, TNI, and Polri pooled their personnel and resources to bring the fire under control more quickly.
After the fire was brought under control, monitoring continued to ensure that the area was completely safe. This measure is important because remaining embers or heat sources can reignite and cause another fire if they are not detected and extinguished promptly.
Coordination among companies, communities, the government, TNI-Polri, and other relevant parties will continue to be strengthened to improve forest and land fire prevention and response efforts. Increased vigilance is particularly necessary during periods of elevated fire risk.
Preparedness, patrols, area monitoring, and rapid response are important components in preventing fires from spreading. Through effective coordination, signs of fire can be quickly verified and appropriate measures taken before the flames reach other areas.
This approach also underscores the importance of shared responsibility in protecting areas from the threat of forest and land fires. Every party involved contributes to fire detection, prevention, suppression, and post-fire monitoring.
Prevention efforts require not only readiness to respond when a fire occurs but also continuous monitoring. The use of drones, field patrols, the readiness of response personnel, and the availability of appropriate equipment can further strengthen systems for detecting and responding to potential forest and land fires.
By maintaining cooperation among the various parties, similar incidents can be addressed more quickly and effectively in the future. Such cooperation is also part of joint efforts to prevent fires from spreading and reduce the risk of new heat sources emerging in surrounding areas.
(IDNC)REPORTER: Dalil Harahap | EDITOR: Fik Sagala