inp.polri.go.id - Palembang. The South Sumatra Regional Police deployed 300 Mobile Brigade personnel to strengthen efforts to extinguish forest and land fires in the Padang Sugihan Wildlife Sanctuary (SM) area, Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) Regency. 

This measure was taken to suppress the fires that threaten protected wildlife habitats and anticipate the potential impact of smoke that could drift towards Palembang City.

South Sumatra Regional Police Chief Inspector General Rony Samtana stated that the decision to deploy personnel was made after considering wind direction, based on analysis by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). 

During a coordination meeting on forest and land fire management in Palembang on Thursday (10/22/2026), Rony explained that the 300 personnel consisted of 200 operational control assistance personnel (BKO) from the Indonesian National Police Headquarters and 100 Mobile Brigade personnel from the South Sumatra Regional Police.

"We decided to deploy personnel focused on extinguishing the fires to the OKI area because we cannot ignore wind direction," he said.

Based on BMKG analysis, winds from the southeast and east are carrying smoke from fires in the OKI region toward Palembang. This situation makes extinguishing the fires at the source a priority to mitigate the impact of forest and land fires.

Hundreds of personnel will strengthen ground firefighting efforts at seven active posts of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) in the Padang Sugihan Wildlife Sanctuary (SM Padang Sugihan). These points of concern include TP950, TP947, and the Pangkalan Jirambah Post.

Personnel deployment will be coordinated with the BKSDA to ensure that deployment is aligned with field needs, including reaching hotspots deep within forest areas.

In addition to the additional 300 Brimob personnel, the South Sumatra Regional Police have also deployed around 100 personnel from several precincts with lower forest and land fire potential. They will assist with ground firefighting efforts in the OKI region.

Rony emphasized that handling forest and land fires requires the involvement of all elements, from the authorities and relevant agencies to the community. This synergy is necessary for effective extinguishing and fire risk reduction.

"All components of the nation in South Sumatra must work together to combat forest and land fires from all angles," he said.

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