inp.polri.go.id - West Kalimantan. The West Kalimantan Regional Police has received an additional 300 Mobile Brigade personnel to strengthen forest and land fire management in eight priority districts.
"Today we witnessed the welcoming ceremony for mobile brigade personnel involved in the Nusa Dua Safe Task Force for forest and land fire management in West Kalimantan," said the West Kalimantan Regional Police Chief Inspector General Alberd Teddy Benhard Sianipar.
He said the hundreds of personnel will soon be deployed, along with firefighting equipment and infrastructure, to areas with a high potential for forest and land fires.
On the other hand, Alberd explained that the additional troops are a follow-up to the Indonesian National Police (INP) Chief's order and a form of state involvement in strengthening forest and land fire management in West Kalimantan.
The eight areas of concern include Ketapang, Kubu Raya, Melawi, Sambas, Sanggau, Bengkayang, Mempawah, and Kayong Utara. Ketapang, Kubu Raya, and Melawi receive special attention due to their relatively high risk of forest and land fires.
With these additional personnel, the West Kalimantan Regional Police now have approximately 2,298 personnel deployed to support forest and land fire management.
In addition to Brimob personnel, eight personnel have been deployed to support community outreach activities through direct, door-to-door outreach in several areas.
Alberd emphasized that the police are also tightening supervision of the activities of companies located near the fire sites. Any corporations found to have intentionally set fires or ordered fires will be subject to strict action.
"So far, there have been no cases, but we are still working with the West Kalimantan Regional Government's Environmental Agency. Several companies have been questioned for initial information," he said.
According to him, the inspections are being conducted to ensure that fires near the company's area do not involve corporations and to gather evidence if any indications of legal violations are found.
The police chief stated that forest and land fire management is also being strengthened by searching for and preparing water sources. The police are coordinating with the Environmental Agency to detect drilling locations based on the coordinates of vulnerable points.
"In addition, the police have prepared reservoirs and ditches around fire-prone areas as water sources for extinguishing fires, including collaborating with nearby companies to help distribute water," he said.
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