KETAPANG, thekabarnews.com—President Prabowo Subianto has approved Rp240 billion (US$14.4 million) in assistance for West Kalimantan’s forest and land fire (karhutla) response as the government intensifies firefighting operations in Ketapang, the province’s main hotspot cluster.

Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni announced the funding after leading a coordination meeting in Ketapang on Friday, Oct. 23. West Kalimantan Governor Ria Norsan joined officials from the Indonesian Military, National Police, National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), regional disaster agencies and the Forestry Ministry.

Government monitoring recorded 39 high-confidence hotspots across West Kalimantan as of 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 22. Ketapang accounted for 37, while Melawi and Sintang recorded one each.

Between Sept. 23 and Oct. 22, authorities detected 1,712 hotspots province-wide, including 1,604 in Ketapang. Officials stressed that satellite hotspots indicate surface-temperature anomalies and do not necessarily represent separate fires or burned areas.

“The decline in hotspot numbers should motivate us to complete the wildfire response immediately,” Raja Juli said. “While the numbers remain low, we must move quickly with the resources available so the fires do not spread again.”

The ministry will deploy 104 personnel to three priority locations for 14 days. Twenty officers will work in the Muara Kendawangan Nature Reserve area in Seriam village, 44 will be assigned to Pembedilan village and 40 will support operations in the concession area of PT Buana Megatama Jaya. Police proposed adding about 300 personnel, while the military planned to deploy another 400.

Authorities are also using weather-modification operations where atmospheric conditions permit. Ground teams continue patrols, water spraying and peatland cooling because underground embers can survive after surface flames disappear.

The presidential assistance comprises Rp200 billion previously transferred to the provincial administration and 10 municipalities or regencies.

A further Rp40 billion went to Mempawah, Landak, Sekadau and Sanggau. The regional grants do not include separate central-government spending on weather modification and water-bombing operations.

The emergency has also placed West Kalimantan’s wildlife at risk. During his Ketapang visit, Raja Juli inspected the YIARI orangutan rehabilitation center and discussed protecting animals displaced by fire.

Authorities and conservation teams rescued 51 orangutans in Ketapang and North Kayong between Aug. 6 and mid-October, while 27 required further rehabilitation. Some arrived dehydrated or suffering respiratory problems, according to the Forestry Ministry.

Enforcement has proceeded alongside firefighting. On Oct. 21, the ministry froze the permits of six forestry concession holders in Central Kalimantan and ordered ecosystem restoration.

The action brought the number of companies facing administrative sanctions over the 2026 fires to 32, covering concessions totaling 1.93 million hectares.

“Law enforcement must not only be harsh on those at the bottom while remaining weak at the top,” Raja Juli said, citing Prabowo’s directive that authorities investigate corporations as well as individuals.

The ministry said administrative penalties do not rule out criminal proceedings if investigators find sufficient evidence.

The Ketapang response now combines fire suppression with wildlife rescue and legal enforcement. Its effectiveness will depend on transparent spending, verified field data and sustained prevention after hotspot numbers fall.