RRI.CO.ID, Pekanbaru – The central government, along with local governments, continues to strengthen preparedness to face the potential for forest and land fires ahead of the 2026 dry season. These efforts were carried out thru the Karhutla Readiness Rally held at Lanud Roesmin Nurjadin, Pekanbaru, Riau, on Thursday, 5 Maret 2026.

This readiness rally was attended by elements of the central government, local governments, the military, the police, and various related agencies. The activity aims to ensure that all personnel and equipment are ready for use before the dry season, which is predicted to start at the end of March 2026.

The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Djamari Chaniago, emphasized the importance of early mitigation and prevention measures to reduce the potential for forest and land fires in vulnerable areas.

"Mitigation and prevention can be carried out as early as possible, including weather modification, waterbombing, and helipetrol." Filling the reservoirs from now on. Ditches and canals to maintain water levels in peatland especially," Djamari Chaniago stated.

Meanwhile, the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Suharyanto, stated that Indonesia has shown significant progress in controlling forest and land fires in recent years.

"In these 7 years, Indonesia has been able to prove that there have been no major fires after 2019. Even in 2023, which is an El Nino year as mentioned by the Head of BMKG, Indonesia has also been able to manage it," Suharyanto conveyed.

In the event, the government also handed over supporting equipment for forest and land fire prevention to the provincial governments of Riau and Jambi. The assistance included one multipurpose truck, two trail motorcycles, and one hundred handy talkies to support field operations.