inp.polri.go.id - Gorontalo. The Gorontalo Regional Police have put personnel and key weapons systems on alert to anticipate the impact of the extreme El Niño weather phenomenon and forest and land fires in the area.

Gorontalo Regional Police Chief Inspector General Widodo stated that based on a coordination meeting with Indonesian National Police (INP) Headquarters and relevant agencies, the prolonged dry season caused by El Niño has the potential to trigger various problems, particularly forest and land fires.

"We shouldn't assume we don't have peatlands or forests that could catch fire like in other regions. The evidence is that in the last few days, many fires have appeared in the Gorontalo region," he said in Gorontalo on Monday (8/4/2026).

In addition to forest and land fires, Widodo also warned of the potential side effects of the prolonged dry season, such as a clean water crisis and disrupted agricultural production, leading to shortages of staple foods.

The police should be wary of these scarcities, as they have the potential to increase crime rates within the community. 

As a preventative measure, the Gorontalo Regional Police's Community Development Directorate was deployed on a community outreach drive to educate and provide guidance to the public regarding El Niño mitigation and crime prevention.

Meanwhile, to ensure operational readiness for handling forest and land fires, the police conducted on-site inspections of 571 joint personnel, consisting of Mobile Brigade Corps and Community Police Unit, who held warrants. This number of personnel is guaranteed to increase at any time, depending on the needs in the field.

The Gorontalo Regional Police have also placed personnel on standby in areas prone to fires.

On-site inspections of vehicles and equipment are crucial to ensure their readiness and functionality, ensuring they can be fully operational in the event of an emergency or when needed.

He stated that the inspections revealed that all equipment, vehicles, and personnel, including field kitchens and water purification equipment, were in good working condition. The Gorontalo Regional Police have even prepared a clean water reserve for distribution to residents experiencing a water crisis.

"We urge all elements of society not to burn land or waste indiscriminately. Given the current extremely hot weather conditions accompanied by strong winds, which can facilitate the spread of fires, let's protect nature and our environment," he said.

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