BNPB Deploys Water Bombing Helicopter for Forest Fire Management in Teluk Bintuni

RRI.CO.ID, Teluk Bintuni — The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) deployed a water bombing helicopter to mitigate forest and land fires near the Tangguh LNG strategic energy project area in Teluk Bintuni Regency, West Papua, on Friday, August 28, 2026. This swift action was taken to ensure the continuity of the global energy supply chain remains safe from the threat of fire and haze disasters.

Aerial water dropping focused on dense forest areas that were difficult to reach by ground teams due to heavy vegetation cover. Cumulatively, the AS350B3e helicopter has dropped approximately 69,000 liters of water to sever the spread of fire in the affected areas.

The use of advanced technology, such as thermal scanning drones, was also deployed to detect remaining hotspots beneath the ground surface. This precise mapping is crucial for directing water discharge points so that firefighting operations run efficiently and accurately.

“The hotspot mapping results are also used as evaluation material to determine the next firefighting priorities,” Acting Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center Berton SP Panjaitan, said in a written statement on Saturday, August 29, 2026.

Geographical challenges and the extensive burned land area have made Teluk Bintuni a priority region for provincial-level forest fire management. An additional fleet of larger capacity firefighting helicopters continues to be brought in to strengthen aerial firefighting reach.

“Each helicopter assignment is tailored to the region's characteristics and the capability of the equipment to reach target locations effectively,” explained Berton regarding the strategy for handling West Papua's difficult terrain.

The synergy between BNPB, local governments, and industrial area managers has proven effective in keeping conditions around Tangguh LNG under control. This integrated measure is expected to protect Papua's biodiversity ecosystem while maintaining national economic stability.