inp.polri.go.id - Berau. The swift efforts of a joint team successfully brought the forest and land fire under control on Mulawarman Road, Tumbit Melayu Village, Teluk Bayur District, Berau Regency, on Monday evening (9/21/2026).
The incident was discovered after receiving reports of a hotspot in a bushland area across from a soccer field. The burned area is estimated to cover approximately 0.5 hectares.
Upon receiving the information, a team consisting of members from the Teluk Bayur Sector Police, the Berau Sub-regional Police's Community Empowerment Unit, the East Kalimantan Regional Police's Assigned Personnel, the Military District Command Unit, the Fire Department, Manggala Agni, the West Berau Production Forest Management Unit (KPHP), and local residents immediately mobilized to the scene.
Upon arrival, firefighters from the Labanan Fire and Rescue Agency, along with the West Berau KPHP, and police operational vehicles were immediately deployed to reach the fire.
By intensively spraying water, officers managed to stop the fire from spreading to residential areas and residents' plantations. After the fire was brought under control, officers then inspected the area to ensure conditions were completely safe.
The Head of Public Relations for the Berau Police, Police Senior Inspector Suradi, confirmed the incident. He explained that swift response and collaboration between all elements in the field were crucial factors in preventing the fire from spreading further.
"The hot weather and low rainfall in recent times have caused vegetation such as twigs and leaves to become dry and flammable. Thanks to the swift response of joint officers, the hotspots were successfully extinguished," explained Suradi.
Regarding the cause of the fire, the police are still investigating, including confirming the status and ownership of the affected land. Preliminary suspicions point to human negligence, such as carelessly discarded cigarette butts and land clearing activities.
To ensure there are no further fires, joint officers are continuing to monitor and comb the previously burned area. This step is being taken to find any remaining embers that could potentially reignite the fire.
Furthermore, the police are also reminding the public to be more vigilant during dry weather conditions. Residents are asked not to clear land using the burning method because it can trigger forest and land fires and have an impact on the environment and health.
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