Tanjung Puting Forest and Land Fire, Government Prepares 30 Drilled Wells to Prevent Fire from Reaching Core Zone

WEST KOTAWARINGIN, GARISBUMI.com – The government is preparing to add around 30 drilled wells and deploy around 160 joint personnel to handle one of the priority locations for forest and land fires (karhutla) in Tanjung Puting National Park, Central Kalimantan (Kalteng). This step is aimed at preventing the fire from spreading to the core zone of the orangutan habitat conservation area.

Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said mapping using thermal drones identified four priority treatment locations. At one location, the fire span was observed to reach around two kilometers.

The extinguishing strategy was discussed in a limited meeting at the Tanjung Puting National Park Hall Office, West Kotawaringin Regency, Wednesday (14/10/2026). The meeting involved the regional government, TNI, Polri, BPBD, BNPB, and related elements.

One area of major concern is near the orangutan feeding area. At this location, the government is preparing to add drilled wells, deploy land officers, and study the construction of fire breaks by taking into account the condition and depth of the peat.

"Earlier we agreed that we would take two steps. The first is to intercept Hotspots by increasing the number of drilled wells. We are also looking at the possibility of creating fire breaks, including considering the depth of the peat. But in essence, we are preventing fire from entering the core zone," said Raja Juli.

Firefighting operations are also prioritized in Teluk Pulai, Sungai Bulu Kecil and Sungai Bulu Besar, as well as the Sungai Baung and Tanjung Rengas areas.

For locations that are difficult to reach, the government is preparing the deployment of personnel and logistics for several days. In this way, it is hoped that blackouts can last continuously without traveling in and out of the area every day.