Inp.polri.go.id - Singkawang. A forest and land fire near Singkawang Airport in West Kalimantan has grown to 31 hectares, with only 0.6 hectares extinguished so far, officials said Wednesday (30/7/2025).

"The area looks like a sea of fire. Thick smoke and shifting winds are making it very difficult to control," said Yuyu Wahyudin, the Head of Manggala Agni Kalimantan IX/Singkawang, as quoted by antaranews.com.

The joint response team, comprising Manggala Agni, military and police personnel, local disaster agency (BPBD), and other units, continues ground operations. Water bombing by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has also been deployed but has yielded limited success.

Singkawang Mayor Tjhai Chui Mie announced plans to build firebreak trenches and drill bore wells to halt the fire’s spread and assist firefighters with water access. 

“This isn’t just an environmental threat, it affects public health and airport operations,” she warned, urging tighter supervision and public education during the dry season.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)