West Kalimantan reduces forest fire damage through collaboration
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
In West Kalimantan, Indonesia, Governor Ria Norsan reported a significant decrease in land burned by forest fires thanks to coordinated efforts between government agencies, the military, police, local communities, and volunteers.
Fires had previously damaged around 38,310 hectares of land, but current fires cover only about 200 hectares. The governor discussed fire control as a key topic at a meeting with district and city leaders.
Teams are working together across the region to suppress fires and prevent new ones from starting. Monitoring shows a substantial reduction in hotspots, falling from over 2,000 to approximately 156. Norsan cautioned that continued vigilance is necessary, as fires persist in areas yet to experience rainfall. Some districts, like Sambas and Ketapang, have received rain, but others still need support.
He also emphasized the health consequences of smoke from the fires, noting 734 cases of acute respiratory infection (ARI) reported by regional governments as of September 5. The governor asked all involved parties to maintain coordination to prevent further fire spread and improve air quality.
