South Sumatra Braces for Wildfire After Peatland Blaze

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - A significant peatland fire in Ogan Ilir has prompted South Sumatra authorities to accelerate emergency preparations, as the province seeks to bolster its aerial firefighting capabilities. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) confirmed on Thursday, April 9, 2026, that approximately 10 hectares of vulnerable peatland in Palemraya Village, North Indralaya Subdistrict, were razed by a blaze earlier this week.

The fire initially broke out on Tuesday afternoon, April 7, triggering a massive response from a joint task force including the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), Manggala Agni (Forestry Ministry’s Fire Brigade), the fire department, the Indonesian Military, and the National Police personnel. Despite battling high winds and challenging terrain, the ground teams successfully extinguished the flames by Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

"The fire was successfully put out on Wednesday. The burned area spans 10 hectares," remarked BNPB’s Head of the Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Agency, Abdul Muhari, as quoted by Antara.

This latest incident underscores the high risks facing Ogan Ilir, which is identified by the provincial BPBD as one of 12 subdistricts in South Sumatra highly prone to forest and land fires. In response to the escalating threat, provincial officials are finalizing an emergency standby status to unlock critical federal resources and equipment.

Executive Head of BPBD South Sumatra, Iqbal Alisyahbana, noted that this legal status is a prerequisite for requesting 10 helicopter units from the central government. These aircraft are intended to provide rapid response and water-bombing capabilities in remote areas inaccessible to ground crews.

Iqbal emphasized that helicopters are vital for early detection and swift suppression to prevent small fires from evolving into large-scale environmental disasters.

While the request for 10 units is based on historical data from previous fire seasons, the final deployment will remain flexible. "It will also depend on the government's budget efficiency. However, we will ultimately assess the actual condition of the fires on the ground," Iqbal remarked.

The provincial administration remains committed to adjusting its strategy based on real-time fire intensity while maintaining fiscal responsibility. ***