BNPB Strengthens Forest Fire Response in East Kalimantan

RI.CO.ID, Penajam Paser Utara - Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) is strengthening forest fire response in East Kalimantan. The effort was reviewed at Bukit Tengkorak, Sepaku, on Monday, September 14, 2026.

BNPB Head Lieutenant General Suharyanto inspected the affected area alongside Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni. They reviewed field conditions and assessed ongoing efforts by joint teams to control the forest and land fires.

Suharyanto said conditions in East Kalimantan were relatively better than those in three other provinces. West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan remain priority areas facing large-scale fires annually.

He said more than 4,000 hectares had burned across East Kalimantan as of Monday. More than 700 hectares had been handled through coordinated ground and aerial firefighting operations the previous day.

“East Kalimantan is relatively better than the three provinces I mentioned earlier, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan. More than 4,000 hectares have burned in East Kalimantan so far,” Suharyanto said.

Suharyanto said around 300 hectares remained under firefighting operations across several areas in East Kalimantan on Monday. Four fire locations were still being handled within the Nusantara Capital area, which remains a key priority.

He said the Nusantara Capital area remains a priority because it is considered a vital national site. Indonesia's government has deployed all available resources following direct instructions from President Prabowo Subianto.

Ground operations involve thousands of personnel from the Nusantara Capital Authority, BPBD, TNI-Polri, Manggala Agni, and local communities. Their combined efforts are focused on accelerating firefighting and preventing fires from spreading across surrounding areas.

Suharyanto said the fires in East Kalimantan mainly affected non-peatland areas, making conditions different from other provinces. Indonesia's government will continue strengthening firefighting support according to field needs and challenges.