inp.polir.go.id - East Kalimantan. A joint team from the East Kalimantan Regional Police, the Kutai Kartanegara Sub-regional Police, the Kutai Kartanegara Regency Fire Department, and Jasa Marga responded quickly to contain the forest and land fire at Kilometer 54 of the Balikpapan-Samarinda Toll Road, Muara Jawa District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency, on Sunday (8/16/2026) at around 2:00 PM.
Personnel deployed to the scene included members of the Special Crimes Directorate IV Sub-Directorate IV and the Traffic Police Unit of the East Kalimantan Regional Police, the Muara Jawa and Samboja Sector Police, the Kutai Kartanegara Regency Fire Department, and Jasa Marga's Toll Road Rescue and Public Order Agency. Officers immediately arrived at the scene to inspect and address the fire.
Initial investigations revealed the fire was located in the Bukit Soeharto Grand Forest Park, with an estimated five hectares of affected land. Vegetation at the site consisted of mixed wood, while the fire was found to be spreading primarily through grass and weeds.
Officers then extinguished the fire using fire trucks. The fire gradually reduced in size, but several spots were still spreading beneath the grass and weeds, prompting personnel to continue spraying and monitoring the area.
During initial inspections, officers found no signs of community activity, including plantations or residential areas, near the location. The fire is suspected to have been caused by weather conditions, but police are still investigating to determine the cause of the forest and land fire.
Separately, the Head of Public Relations for the East Kalimantan Regional Police, Senior Superintendent Tedy Sopandi, stated that the forest and land fire management was carried out properly, prioritizing speed of response and prevention to prevent the fire from spreading.
"We ensure that personnel, along with all relevant elements, immediately respond to the scene. In addition to extinguishing the fire, the police are also conducting a preliminary investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire. We urge the public to remain vigilant and avoid activities that could potentially trigger fires, especially during the dry season," said Tedy.
He explained that the firefighting process faced several obstacles, primarily the lack of water sources nearby, forcing officers to rely on water trucks and tankers. Furthermore, the limited reach of hoses also forced the extinguishing process to be carried out in stages.
"We, along with relevant agencies, will continue monitoring and extinguishing efforts until all hotspots are declared safe. This effort is part of our shared commitment to preventing the spread of forest and land fires and preserving forest areas," he added.
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