Bengkalis, Riau (Antarariau.com) - The Bengkalis District Head, Amril Mukminin, has instructed every village chief and sub-district head in his region to stay alert around the clock and carry out field observation for any wildfires.
They must play an active role in preventing wildfires from developing in the areas, he said here on Tuesday. He was speaking in the wake of forest and peatland fires that have hit the sub-districts of Siak Kecil, Mandau and Pinggir.
The Aqua and Terra satellites detected 11 hotspots, indicating forest and peatland fires in Bengkalis, on Wednesday.
He asked the local officials to help supervise efforts to put out the wildfires in their respective areas.
"Every sub-district head and village chief must go to the fields. Help put out the fires, and not just passively receive reports. Make an inventory of obstacles in the field, and report it to the respective superiors," he ordered.
Those ignoring the instructions will be sanctioned, he warned.
He also asked them to take preventive measures by carrying out a public awareness campaign, telling local people not to resort to fire to clear land for farming.
Farmers whose lands are on fire must also help extinguish the blaze, he stated.
The Aqua and Terra satellites detected 43 hotspots across Sumatra Island, including 35 in Riau Province, three in Lampung, and two respectively in West and North Sumatra Provinces.
In Riau, 35 hotspots were found with 11 in Bengkalis District and as many in Rokan Hilir.