inp.polri.go.id - Palembang. Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni stated that the government will maximize weather modification operations (OMC), water bombing, and ground task forces to handle forest and land fires throughout September 2026.
According to the Minister, September is a crucial period in handling forest and land fires in various regions.
"Because we are at the peak of September. Hopefully, there is rain in September, but as we heard earlier from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), I heard there is potential for rain only in early October. So, September will be rough," said Forestry Minister Raja Antoni in a statement received in Jakarta on Monday (8/31/2026).
He further stated that OMC is one of the efforts that must be maximized while there is still an opportunity to conduct such operations.
"Because, after all, OMC is the most effective, and because we still have a window to carry out OMC," he added.
In addition to the OMC, the Minister of Forestry mentioned water bombing and ground troops as part of the forest and land fire management strategy.
The Minister requested that troop deployment be regulated based on locations with a high number of hotspots and that personnel be rotated to maintain troop conditions.
"The third is, of course, the ground troops, the ground task force. I really hope that their deployment can be managed as efficiently as possible in each location with a high number of hotspots, and how many times a day they have to rotate," he added.
Raja Juli Antoni also stated that the Ministry of Forestry is working to increase personnel through the Operational Control (BKO) mechanism.
"We, too, at the Ministry of Forestry, are trying to implement BKO for around 1,000 more people, increasing," he said.
According to him, arranging additional personnel is also important to support the work of the main forces in the field and prevent fatigue.
"Personnel who do not have specialized extinguishing skills can still assist in supporting work," he added.
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