Crews monitor Sanggau hillside after forest fire

SANGGAU, thekabarnews.com – Fire crews returned to Bukit Seraya in Sanggau regency, West Kalimantan, on Tuesday, September 15. They came to check for lingering embers after bringing a forest and land fire (karhutla) under control.

The inspection began at around 11:50 a.m. in Seraya hamlet, Kawat village, Tayan Hilir district. Sahat Irawan Manik, coordinator of Manggala Agni’s Pontianak Region 2 unit, joined local police. In addition, the West Sanggau Forest Management Unit helped examine the burned area.

The teams looked for smoke, residual heat and vegetation that could reignite. Their visit formed part of the post-fire operation; controlling visible flames did not end the need to monitor the site.

“After extinguishing the fire, we continue to monitor the area with the relevant agencies,” Tayan Hilir police chief Insp. Kusdarwanto said. 

“This post-fire inspection is important to ensure conditions on the ground are safe and that no embers remain that could develop into new fire spots.”

A report carrying the police account identified West Sanggau Forest Management Unit head Marcelinus Rudy among those taking part.

Firefighters had worked on the Bukit Seraya blaze for several days before Tuesday’s inspection. 

The hillside terrain made access difficult. Meanwhile, personnel from the police, military, fire agencies, forest management unit and nearby communities took part in the response. 

Earlier reporting from the site said crews were still extinguishing flames and cooling the area on September 13.

The wider Tayan Hilir district had also recorded other fire spots. On September 11, a joint team responded to satellite hotspot reports. They confirmed three fire spots in Kawat village during a ground inspection, according to the TNI’s public information office. 

Those reports underline why crews continued patrols after the Bukit Seraya flames subsided. However, they do not establish that all the reported fires formed a single incident.

Kusdarwanto said coordination with Manggala Agni and the forest management unit would help responders act quickly. For instance, they could respond fast if they detected renewed smoke or heat. 

Officials also asked residents to report any fresh smoke or flames rather than assume the danger had passed.

The Tuesday inspection ended without a reported new outbreak at the checked site. Continued monitoring remains necessary to confirm that the burned hillside stays clear as local fire conditions change.