Deputy Polri Chief, Komjen Pol Dedi Prasetyo inspecting the Polda of Central Kalimantan Main Command Post for Forest and Land Fire Response at Tjilik Riwut KM 21, Palangka Raya.

progresifjaya.co.id,  PALANGKA RAYA – Peatlands in Central Kalimantan (Kalteng) are becoming increasingly dry due to the influence of El Niño. This situation necessitates a more serious strategy for handling forest and land fires—moving beyond mere reliance on conventional methods.

Moreover, dryness levels in Central Kalimantan are now approaching extreme conditions. The peat groundwater level has reportedly dropped significantly below the safe limit, which should ideally be maintained at a depth of around 40 centimeters.

This assessment was made by the Deputy Polri Chief, Komjen Pol Dedi Prasetyo, while inspecting the Polda of Central Kalimantan main command post for forest and land fire management at Tjilik Riwut KM 21, Palangka Raya, on Friday, September 11, 2026.

“Based on the data, we have entered a period of very strong El Niño activity during August and September. Dryness levels are approaching the extreme range,” said Deputy Chief Dedi.

According to him, this condition is evident from the drop in the peat groundwater level, which has now reached approximately 120 centimeters—far below the safe threshold of 40 centimeters.

“The safe limit for the peat groundwater level is 40 cm. In Central Kalimantan, it has currently dropped to 120 cm, well below the safe limit,” he explained.

This extremely dry peat condition creates the potential for fire to spread beneath the surface. Consequently, surface-level firefighting alone is deemed insufficient to ensure the fire is completely extinguished. Large-scale fire suppression can no longer rely solely on water bombing or ground task forces.

During the inspection, Deputy Chief Dedi also reviewed the readiness of personnel, equipment, and infrastructure, as well as the strategies prepared by the Polda of Central Kalimantan. One such measure is an innovative method involving the injection of a special fluid to tackle peatland fires.

This method has been prepared as an alternative way to reach and extinguish burning peat sections located beneath the surface. Consequently, response efforts are not focused solely on the fire visible on the surface.

“Boreholes are also being prepared to assist in wetting the land. Water retained by canal blocks is expected to maintain peat moisture while simultaneously inhibiting the spread of subsurface fires,” said Deputy Polri Chief Dedi.

He noted, that the Polda of Central Kalimantan field experience in handling forest and land fires serves as a valuable asset for refining response strategies.

At the same time, participants from the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) and the TNI-Polri Senior Leadership School (Sespimti) have been deployed to provide guidance and share experiences with the community.

“We are also offering advice, input, assistance, and lessons learned so that existing firefighting methods can be improved,” he stated.

According to Deputy Chief Dedi, strong El Niño conditions require all parties to take extra measures to confront the threat of forest and land fires. Synergy among local governments, the Military Resort Command (Korem), the Regional Police (Polda), Manggala Agni, the TNI (military), and the community must also be strengthened.

“Maximum effort is mandatory. Strong El Niño conditions demand extraordinary measures,” he emphasized.

He hopes, that the experience gained in handling fires this year will serve as a basis for evaluation when facing similar threats in the future, ensuring that fire response efforts in Central Kalimantan become more effective and efficient while yielding optimal results.

“It is the shared responsibility of local governments, Korem, Polda, and Manggala Agni to work together through collaborative policing. Hopefully, the situation will be resolved quickly,” he added. (Bembo)