KUBU RAYA, thekabarnews.com—Kubu Raya Police have strengthened coordination with volunteer firefighters. This comes as West Kalimantan faces an increased risk of forest and land fires (Karhutla) during Indonesia’s 2026 dry season.

Kubu Raya Police Chief AKBP Rensa S. Aktadivia visited two volunteer fire brigades in the Sungai Raya district, Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan, on Saturday, August 1.

The visit focused on operational preparedness, faster emergency response and coordination among the police, local government and community firefighters.

Rensa and his delegation visited the Siaga Firefighting Foundation on Siaga Street, Gang Siaga Empat Berseri. They also visited the Mandiri Firefighting Foundation at Adi Sucipto Street No. 8.5.

Deputy Police Chief KOMPOL Andri Syahroni joined the visit alongside operations chief AKP Samidi. Other senior Kubu Raya and Sungai Raya police officials also joined.

During meetings with volunteers, the delegation discussed public security conditions and the threat of Karhutla.

Participants reviewed field coordination procedures and ways to accelerate the deployment of personnel and equipment when fires break out.

Police also inspected fire engines, water pumps, hoses, personal protective equipment, communications devices and other operational tools.

“The police chief inspected operational vehicles, water pumps, hoses, personal protective equipment, communications equipment and other supplies,” Kubu Raya Police public information officer AIPTU Ade said.

“The inspection was conducted to ensure that personnel and equipment are ready to face potential fires, particularly forest and land fires,” he added.

The preparedness drive comes as official forecasts point to heightened fire danger. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has forecast a generally drier-than-normal dry season between April and September 2026.

The BMKG has also warned that a weak-to-moderate El Niño could emerge in the second half of the year. As a result, the need for early detection and rapid intervention in West Kalimantan increases.

Kubu Raya has already faced significant fire pressure this year. BMKG reported that the regency recorded the highest number of detected hotspots in West Kalimantan during a dry period in January.

In March, the Forestry Ministry’s Manggala Agni fire brigade responded to forest and land fires at five locations in the regency. BMKG West Kalimantan and the Forestry Ministry reported the incident.

Rensa also thanked the volunteers for helping protect residents. He encouraged them to maintain close communication with the police and other agencies.

“Strong synergy among the police, local government and volunteers is key to ensuring that fires are handled quickly, accurately and effectively, particularly during the dry season when the risk of forest and land fires may increase,” Ade said.

The visit forms part of Kubu Raya Police’s preventive strategy. Its goal is to ensure local responders can mobilize quickly before fires spread to settlements or surrounding land.