Pekanbaru, Riau, Feb 27 (Antarariau.com)- The Riau Forest Fire Task Force has managed to put out wildfires in peatland area located in Meranti Islands.
Wildfires had razed peatland forest area measuring 213 hectares in Lukun village, Tebing Tinggi sub-district, Meranti Islands District, since January, Edward Sanger, deputy commander of the task force, said here, Tuesday.
The task force comprises several teams from the Indonesian Defense Froces (TNI), the Police, Manggala Agni wildfire brigade, local disaster mitigation office (BPBD), companies and volunteers.
Several other wildfires reportedly hit Kampung Tuah Indrapura in Bunga Raya sub-district and Kampung Penyengat as well as Kampung Bunsur, Sungai Apit sub-district in Siak District, Riau Province, currently.
The task force has deployed personnel to extinguish wildfires in Siak.
In Riau Province, a total of 731.5 hectares of forest and plantation areas had been gutted by fires since January 14, 2018.
The Riau Administration has declared an emergency status of fores fires since February 19, and will be effective until May 31, 2018, following a significant increase in the number of wildfires.
This year, the province has allocated funds amounting to over Rp1 million to fight wildfires. ***4***
The Task Force Put Out Thousand Hectares Land Fires in Meranti District of Riau
