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| West Kalimantan Prioritized in National Wildfire Response, Governor Ria Norsan Ensures On-Ground Action. |
PONTIANAK, WEST KALIMANTAN – West Kalimantan Governor Drs. H. Ria Norsan, MM., MH., joined a virtual coordination meeting on Monday, July 28, 2025, to discuss the current situation surrounding forest and land fires (Karhutla). The meeting was organized by the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry and the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), and held online from the Data Analytic Room (DAR).
This important national meeting was attended by Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni, BNPB Head Lt. Gen. Dr. Suharyanto, S.Sos., M.Si., the Head of BMKG (Meteorological Agency), several governors, mayors, regents, members of the West Kalimantan Forkopimda, and representatives from six fire-affected provinces, including West Kalimantan.
A key point discussed was that West Kalimantan is now one of the top priority provinces in Indonesia’s wildfire mitigation plan, alongside Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan. According to Lt. Gen. Suharyanto, while other regions have not declared emergency status yet, West Kalimantan has already taken extensive action to prevent and manage fires.
Weather updates were also shared by BMKG, and Minister Raja Juli Antoni announced plans to visit West Kalimantan soon to strengthen on-site coordination.
“We hope to coordinate directly in the field soon to further address the situation,” said BNPB Chief Lt. Gen. Suharyanto.
Governor Ria Norsan reaffirmed the provincial government’s strong commitment to controlling forest and land fires, focusing on prevention and institutional strengthening.
“At the moment, we still have 9 active hotspots that we are handling seriously. Previously, there were 112 hotspots, but they didn’t escalate into major fires,” he reported.
The current verified hotspots are spread across Sambas (1), Sintang (1), and Kubu Raya (1), totaling 9. These areas are being closely monitored and addressed by joint task forces.
To stay ahead of the threat, West Kalimantan declared a wildfire emergency status from April 17 to October 31, 2025. This enables faster deployment of resources and a more coordinated emergency response.
The provincial government has been implementing a series of on-ground actions, including:
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Joint patrols involving BPBD, the military, police, and local communities.
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Weather modification operations (WMO) conducted in July to increase rainfall and assist with fire suppression.
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Legal action against companies responsible for illegal burning. So far, three companies have been sealed for their involvement.
As of now, a total of 1,149.02 hectares of land have been affected by fires in West Kalimantan. Despite the damage, coordinated efforts have helped contain the fires, preventing further spread.
“Thanks to our joint efforts, the wildfires in West Kalimantan remain under control. We’re hoping for more rain and continued intensive action to help reduce the number of hotspots,” Governor Norsan concluded.
Wildfires during the dry season are a recurring challenge, but West Kalimantan’s swift and strategic response shows strong leadership and community involvement. With the backing of the national government and ongoing coordination at all levels, there is hope that this year’s fires can be managed more effectively.
As the province remains on high alert, all eyes are on the weather — and the continued resilience of those fighting on the frontlines.
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