Community Fire Awareness Patrols Strengthen Fire Prevention Efforts in Four Peatland Villages of West Kalimantan
Facing the increasing risk of forest and land fires (karhutla) during the dry season, the Community Fire Awareness (MPA) team, together with Manggala Agni (the national-level organization under the Ministry of Forestry responsible for fire control), once again conducted integrated patrols in four villages assisted by the Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) in West Kalimantan throughout July 2026. This initiative aims to improve early detection of fires and strengthen community preparedness to prevent them, especially in degraded peatland ecosystems.
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Patrols were conducted in four villages over three consecutive days: Semparong (10–12 July), Parit Raden (13–15 July), Malikian (15–17 July) and Lingga (17–19 July). These villages were prioritised due to their high vulnerability to fire caused by degraded peatland conditions and received assistance from YKAN.
Each patrol team consisted of three MPA members and two Manggala Agni personnel who jointly conducted field monitoring. In Lingga Village, the patrol also included a representative from the village’s Babinkamtibmas as part of cross-sectoral synergy to strengthen fire prevention efforts. Meanwhile, YKAN monitored the activities and provided logistical support during the patrols.
The patrols focused not only on field monitoring but also on various preventive actions. The team inspected locations at risk of fire and checked that the MPA Group's fire suppression equipment was ready for use. They also installed banners displaying fire prevention messages and provided the community with information on preventing land from burning.
Field monitoring was conducted in line with the Ministry of Forestry’s standard operating procedures (SOP). Before patrols began, the MPA group submitted a formal request for assistance to the local Forest Fire Control Office, which serves as the Manggala Agni base. During patrols, teams assessed fire risk indicators such as litter dryness and vegetation conditions in the monitored areas. This information serves as the basis for early detection of potential fire hotspots.
In addition to monitoring, community education formed a key part of the patrols. The MPA and Manggala Agni teams delivered outreach materials prepared by the Ministry of Forestry on forest and land fire prevention measures. Through direct community engagement, it is hoped that public awareness will increase to avoid land burning and promptly report any signs of fire.
All patrol activities were documented daily using the official reporting format from the Ministry of Forestry. Reports were submitted via the patrol WhatsApp group and then relayed by Manggala Agni staff to the Ministry of Forestry’s reporting group as part of the routine national patrol updates.
If fire indications or hotspots were found during patrols, the MPA and Manggala Agni would immediately coordinate to perform initial fire suppression using MPA equipment. Should the fire require additional support, Manggala Agni’s resources and equipment would be deployed to accelerate handling in the field.
Collaboration between MPA, Manggala Agni, village governments, Babinsa, and YKAN demonstrates that preventing forest and land fires requires the involvement of multiple stakeholders. Through regular patrols, field monitoring, community education, and an integrated reporting system, fire prevention efforts in peatland areas are expected to become more effective, thereby minimizing the risk of future forest and land fire disasters.
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