inp.polri.go.id - Jambi. Efforts to prevent and combat forest and land fires in Jambi Province have been strengthened. A total of 873 police personnel were deployed in Operation Aman Nusa II-2026 to anticipate the spread of fires in several vulnerable areas.
The Head of Public Relations for the Jambi Regional Police, Senior Superintendent Erlan Munaji, stated that the hundreds of personnel comprised 373 personnel from the Jambi Regional Police and 500 personnel from the sub-regional police. All are members of the Jambi Province Wildfire Task Force Integrated Command Post.
The handling of forest and land fires is carried out using a multi-layered strategy, starting from prevention, monitoring hotspots, patrols and on-site inspections, extinguishing operations by land and air, public education, and law enforcement.
Preparedness is being strengthened as Jambi enters the 2026 dry season, which is expected to be longer and drier. The peak of the dry season is predicted to occur in August 2026, making the potential for forest and land fires a serious concern.
Based on monitoring by the Terra-Aqua SNPP and NOAA 20 satellites, from January 1 to August 23, 2026, 3,632 hotspots were recorded in Jambi. The area affected by forest and land fires reached 916 hectares.
Several areas have been mapped as vulnerable, including Muaro Jambi Regency, Batang Hari, East Tanjung Jabung, West Tanjung Jabung, Tebo, Bungo, and Merangin.
On August 24, 2026 alone, the Forest and Land Fire Task Force recorded 84 preventative activities, including outreach, patrols, and ground checks. In addition, officers conducted 19 fire extinguishing activities.
On the other hand, police are not the only ones responsible for handling the fires. The Task Force collaborates with the Indonesian National Military (TNI), Manggala Agni, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Fire Awareness Community (MPA), and several other relevant agencies.
For fire hotspots that are difficult to reach by land, operations are also conducted from the air. The Wildfire Task Force Air Command Post monitors hotspots, conducts aerial inspections, and extinguishes fires using water bombing methods.
The Jambi Regional Police also urged the public to act as the eyes and ears of officers by immediately reporting any hotspots or land burning activity. Early reporting is believed to help officers respond before the fires spread.
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