inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Ministry of Forestry ensures continued vigilance during Ramadan to combat forest and land fires in vulnerable areas, including Riau.
Thomas Nifinluri, Director of Forest Fire Control at the Ministry of Forestry's Directorate General of Law Enforcement , stated that Manggala Agni, along with the Indonesian National Military (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (INP), the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), and fire-preserving communities (MPA), remain on the ground to control forest fires in several areas, including in Riau, which has declared a forest and land fire emergency.
"Even during Ramadan, Manggala Agni and field officers remain ready to control forest and land fires," said Director Thomas, Friday (February 20, 2026).
Specifically, Director Thomas hopes that with the declaration of the forest and land fire emergency alert status through Decree Number 102/2026, effective from February 13 to November 30, 2026, all relevant parties will remain vigilant in facing potential fires.
The Ministry of Forestry has also deployed Manggala Agni to extinguish the fires. This includes sending additional personnel from the Manggala Agni Bukit Tempurung Jambi Operations Area, currently stationed in Dumai, Riau, to handle the forest fires.
Previously, a joint team consisting of Manggala Agni from the Ministry of Forestry, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), TNI, INP, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), and other relevant parties prioritized localizing the fires to prevent their spread and to prevent potential haze disasters that could impact residential areas in Riau.
The fire hotspots in the region are spread across several regencies, including Kampar, Bengkalis, Siak, and Pelalawan, with varying land statuses, including Production Forest, Conversion Production Forest, Conservation Areas, and Other Use Areas.
Some locations are located near community and company oil palm plantations, as well as adjacent to residential areas and land plots.
Weather modification operations (OMC) have also been carried out in Riau. One such operation was carried out in Siak and Bengkalis Regencies, where 3 tons of salt were sprinkled to assist ground-based firefighting efforts.
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