Government Maximizes Handling of Forest and Land Fires, Cabinet Secretary Teddy: Everything Is Done to Protect the People
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Cabinet Secretary (Seskab) Lt. Col. Teddy Indra Wijaya revealed that the government continues to deploy all available resources to tackle forest and land fires (karhutla) across various regions in Indonesia.
He stated that efforts to extinguish flames, prevent fire spread, and protect communities from the adverse effects of karhutla are ongoing, carried out via both ground and air operations.
“From the air to the ground, all forces remain active. Everything is done to put out the fires, reduce smoke impact, and most importantly, safeguard the public from the threats posed by karhutla,” Teddy said in a press statement on Sunday (9/20/2026).
Teddy also disclosed that the vast areas and the challenging conditions of peatlands present unique difficulties in handling karhutla.
Nonetheless, he emphasized the government’s persistent efforts to address these challenges without pause.
“The extensive territory and the difficult peatland conditions pose significant challenges in managing forest and land fires across Indonesia. However, firefighting efforts continue relentlessly through both ground and aerial operations,” he explained.
According to Teddy, since August 2026, a total of 64 aircraft have been deployed to support firefighting operations: 55 planes from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and 9 from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), all actively conducting water bombing missions.
In addition to air support, a combined force of 54,394 personnel is continuously active on the ground.
This joint personnel comprises members of the TNI, the Indonesian National Police (Polri), Ministry of Forestry, BNPB, Regional Disaster Management Agencies (BPBD), Manggala Agni firefighters, volunteers, and local communities.
“Since August, 64 aircraft have been deployed for water bombing efforts, supported by 54,394 combined personnel operating in the field, reaching fire hotspots and preventing the flames from spreading further,” Teddy added.
