BULUNGAN – The North Kalimantan Regional Police (Polda Kaltara) Directorate of Samapta carried out a rapid response operation to tackle newly emerging fire hotspots along Bukit Indah Road (SP 6), Tanjung Selor District, Bulungan Regency, on Wednesday August 12, 2026.
The fire affected approximately 11.5 hectares of land. The area had previously been treated and extinguished by personnel from the Polda Kaltara Directorate of Samapta, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), and related agencies on Monday August 10. However, several new hotspots were detected in the area the following day.
A total of 65 Samapta personnel, led by First Inspector Budi Prayitno, were immediately deployed to the site for coordinated fire suppression efforts.
The team brought several support vehicles, including firefighting vehicles, an Armoured Water Cannon (AWC), trucks and Isuzu D-Max operational vehicles. Personnel were also equipped with water pumps, fire hoses, backpack pumps, water extraction equipment, manual firefighting tools and full personal protective equipment.
Upon arrival, officers conducted a reassessment of the site to identify active hotspots, determine the direction of fire spread, locate water sources, assess access routes and evaluate the potential for further spread.
Fire hoses connected to water pumps were deployed to extinguish the flames. Due to the limited availability of nearby water sources, firefighters also connected the hoses to a water truck operated by PT Mill to ensure a continuous water supply.
The operation focused on extinguishing active hotspots and creating firebreaks in areas vulnerable to further spread. Once the flames were brought under control, personnel carried out extensive cooling-down operations to eliminate embers, smoke, burning vegetation and remaining heat sources.
Difficult terrain posed an additional challenge. The distance between the fire and water sources required fire hoses to be extended for approximately 1.5 kilometers. Some sections of the land were also peatland, where fire can continue smoldering beneath the surface.
Dry vegetation, shrubs and trees, combined with relatively strong winds, increased the risk of the fire spreading. Despite these challenges, coordination between the Polda Kaltara Samapta Directorate, BPBD and other agencies enabled the firefighting operation to proceed effectively.
After the fire was extinguished, personnel conducted a thorough sweeping operation around the affected area to ensure no flames or embers remained.
Officers also coordinated with PT PKN, the owner or land manager, to ensure regular monitoring and immediate reporting if new hotspots were detected.
Director of Samapta Polda Kaltara Commissioner Andreas Deddy Wijaya, S.I.K., emphasized the importance of a rapid response to every report of land and forest fires.
Reporter: Made Wahyu Rahadia
