BANJARBARU – Efforts to tackle forest and land fires in South Kalimantan have been bolstered by an intensive firefighting operation. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto appointed the Special Presidential Envoy for Energy, Food, and Infrastructure, Andi Syamsuddin Arsyad—known as Haji Isam—to directly lead the firefighting operations on the ground.
The mandate was conveyed by the Minister of Defense via telephone on Saturday (August 22, 2026) at approximately 11:00 WITA. Upon receiving the instruction, Haji Isam immediately departed for Banjarmasin on a private jet at 12:45 WITA to consolidate all forces deployed for the emergency operation.
Haji Isam’s appointment is attributed to the resources and operational capabilities he possesses. His experience in managing operations requiring heavy equipment serves as a valuable asset in tackling fires in terrain that is difficult to access.
In addition to equipment support, the ability to establish cross-sector coordination is a crucial factor in accelerating the firefighting response. Synergy among the local government, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the National Police (Polri), and relevant agencies is essential to ensure an integrated approach to extinguishing the fires.
Upon arrival in Banjarmasin, Haji Isam immediately held a limited coordination meeting in the VIP lounge of Syamsudin Noor Airport, Banjarbaru.
The meeting was attended by various TNI and Polri officials, as well as members of the South Kalimantan Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda). Attendees included the Chief of Naval Staff (Kasal) Admiral Muhammad Ali; former Head of the National Police Security Maintenance Agency (Kabaharkam) Commissioner General Fadil Imran; the Governor of South Kalimantan; the South Kalimantan Regional Police Chief; the Commander of Military Resort Command (Danrem) 101/Antasari; the Head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Regional Office (Kabinda); the Air Force Base Commander (Danlanud); the Naval Base Commander (Danlanal); and officials from relevant ministries.
Tackling Peatland Terrain: Fire Hoses Connected in Series
During the meeting, discussions focused on strategies to overcome firefighting challenges in several hard-to-reach locations. Deep and unstable peat soil conditions made it difficult for large firefighting vehicles to approach the source of the fire.
To address this issue, a ground-based firefighting strategy was devised. Personnel in the field employed a daisy-chain hose connection method, extending the reach of water pumps to access fire sites located deep within the peat swamp areas.
Once the strategy was agreed upon, Haji Isam and his team proceeded directly to the Gunting Damar area in Banjarbaru. This location was a key focus of the firefighting operation, allowing for an assessment of field conditions and direct oversight of the strategy’s implementation.
The operation in South Kalimantan is part of the government’s broader effort to strengthen the response to forest and land fires across several regions. President Prabowo Subianto also traveled to Kalimantan to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the firefighting efforts.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya stated that the President has directed the TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces), Polri (Indonesian National Police), and local governments to strengthen cooperation in tackling the fires affecting four provinces.
The President emphasized public safety as the top priority. The government is also focused on restoring the daily activities of residents affected by the smoke and fires.
In addition to firefighting and recovery measures, the government affirmed that it would take legal action against any parties proven to have engaged in land burning or other violations related to the fires.
Meanwhile, monitoring by the Republic of Indonesia’s Communication Agency (Bakom) indicates that seasonal changes, accompanied by strong winds shifting from the southeast to the west, could influence the spread of smoke.
These conditions make an accelerated field response increasingly critical. The consolidated efforts led by Haji Isam are expected to hasten the extinguishing of hotspots and prevent the further spread of haze across South Kalimantan.
Daffa Ibrahim
