An Asian Games Free of Forest Fires

The 18th Annual Asian Games in Palembang ran without any significant disruptions, despite concerns about haze due to forest and land fires. The absence of haze disruptions was the result of cooperation between various squads and task units assigned to handle fires in the region, including the National Agency for Disaster Response (BNPB), BPBD, Manggala Agni Fire Brigades, Indonesian National Armed Forces, and Indonesian National Police.

Despite the low level of disruption, Pantau Gambut noted several key considerations:

1. The government pledge to ensure a fire-free Asian Games was not achieved

During the Asian Games, there were fewer hot spots in South Sumatra than other provinces. Nevertheless, forest and land fires occurred in several locations, including Jakabaring, just next to the Asian Games Athlete Village.

On the ground, air patrols extinguished fires in several areas. BPBD data for the period of the Asian Games (20 August – 2 September 2018) reveals forest and land fires in seven regions across Sumatra: Omegan Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI), Banyuasin, Ogan Ilir, Muara Enim, Musi Banyuasin, Palembang, Ogan Komering Ulu Timur.

Of these seven regions, four are regencies with peat hydrological areas (KHGs) included in the 2-million-hectare peatland restoration priority area. These include Banyuasin, Muara Enim, Musi Banyuasin, and OKI.

The following table details the locations of forest and land fires identified by air patrols from 20 August – 2 September.

Based on South Sumatra BPBD data, several of these locations suffered from intense fires. In these areas, aerial firefighting (water bombing) only reduced the fire, and firefighting continued over multiple days.

The coordination involved in forest and land fire response in South Sumatra during the Asian Games is a positive example. However, this was only a temporary fix. This coordination needs to be sustained even in the absence of important events like the Asian Games, particularly because Indonesia is still in the peak of dry season.

2. Several fires were in peatland areas

Land task units, according to South Sumatra BPBD data, found several fires in peatland areas, including:

1. Senda Mukti, Rimau Island, Banyuasin regency
2. Timbangan Village, Ogan Ilir regency
3. Sungai Rambutan Village, Ogan Ilir regency

3. The post-Asian Games fire response plan is not yet clear

To date, it has not been confirmed whether the task units assigned to South Sumatra will continue to conduct patrols and fire response socialization programs in fire-prone areas. Pulling these units out of South Sumatra will impact forest and land fire response in the province.

As of 3 September, two units have been withdrawn from the operation in South Sumatra: the fire response task unit of the Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) of the Indonesian National Police and one helicopter unit from BNPB, which returned to Jakarta. Bareskrim plays an important role in fire response in South Sumatra, especially in terms of law enforcement.

To combat fires in South Sumatra during the Asian Games, BNPB sent 11 helicopter units to conduct air patrols. There were also three private helicopter units and two from the Indonesian National Armed Forces.

4. Law enforcement still needs to continue

As of 2 September 2018, the last day of the Asian Games, there were five active cases, four involving individuals and one involving a corporation. Four suspects have been established in these cases.

Based on the South Sumatra BPBD report, security forces has shared some information regarding the raids on individuals suspected of causing forest fires. Unfortunately, the same transparency has not been extended in cases that involves corporations.

Several major attempts to fight fires through air and land patrols were made over the last week in South Sumatra, where the 2018 Asian Games were being held. A few individuals and corporations have been declared suspects for their roles in the fires, though so far information on law enforcement is not transparent. 

According to the Regional Agency for Disaster Response (BPBD) of South Sumatra’s daily report, land fires occurred in Jakabaring, Palembang, only 500 meters from the Asian Games Athlete Village, on 21 August 2018. Jakabaring is the nexus of several Asian Games competitions. The fire was extinguished by a land task unit and water bombing from the air. 

Air patrols in South Sumatra found 71 land fire locations between 20 and 27 August 2018. The BPBD, in collaboration with the National Agency for Disaster Response, have mobilized helicopters for water bombing in these locations.

According to air patrol reports, land and forest fires blazed in:

• Thirteen locations in Ogan Komering Ilir, Banyuasin, Ogan Ilir, Muara Enim, and Musi Banyuasin on 20 August 2018
• Three locations in Ogan Komering Ilir, Ogan Ilir, and Palembang on 21 August 2018
• Seven locations in Ogan Ilir and Ogan Komering Ilir on 22 August 2018
• Nine locations in Musi Banyuasin, Ogan Komering Ilir, Ogan Ilir, and Banyuasin on 23 August 2018
• Ten locations in Ogan Komering Ilir, Ogan Ilir, and Palembang on 24 August 2018
• Thirteen locations in Ogan Komering Ilir, Ogan Ilir, Palembang, and Muara Enim on 25 August 2018
• Eight locations in Ogan Komering Ilir, Ogan Ilir, and Ogan Komering Ulu Timur on 26 August 2018
• Eight locations in Ogan Komering Ilir, Ogan Ilir, and Banyuasin on 27 August 2018

Fires in the Banyuasin and Ogan Ilir areas are especially concerning due to their proximity to Palembang. Both areas are only 35 kilometers outside of the capital city.  Meanwhile, Musi Banyuasin is about 120 kilometers away from Palembang; Ogan Komering Ilir is 120 kilometers away; Ogan Komering Ulu Timur is 261 kilometers away; and Muara Enim is 220 kilometers away.

Water bombing in these locations supports land patrols in fighting particularly difficult fires. Firefighting joint units include members of the BPBD, Manggala Agni Fire Brigades, Indonesian National Armed Forces, Indonesian National Police, Fire Care Village Task Units, and the Fire Care Community.

1. Source: BNPB

The BPBD’s daily report on the situation in South Sumatra also indicates attempts to enforce fire prevention and land management laws. As of 27 August 2018, there were two cases involving three individuals and one corporation. Three people are currently considered suspects. However, to date, no further information on the suspect list or the legal follow-up plan has been made available.
 

During the Asian Games, hundreds of hot spots continued to arise in South Sumatra and nearby provinces.

According to map analysis based on VIIRS hot spot distribution data, there were a total of 123 hot spots in South Sumatra as of 18–19 August 2018. Of the total, four were in both peatland restoration priority and permit moratorium areas. So far, the impacts of the haze on the Asian Games in Palembang, South Sumatra have not been reported. 

1. Source: Pantau Gambut

Beyond South Sumatra, one of two Asian Games host sites, hot spots detected in Jambi and Riau are also cause for concern. If it is not properly managed, the haze generated from forest fires in Jambi and Riau could potentially carry over into South Sumatra and disrupt the Asian Games. According to VIIRS hot spot distribution data from 18–19 August 2018, there were 32 hot spots in Jambi and 736 hot spots in Riau. Most – as many as 368 hot spots – were found in peatland restoration priority and permit moratorium areas.

According to a report issued by the Regional Agency for Disaster Response of South Sumatra, countermeasures were carried out on 20 August 2018 in the following locations:

1. Gasing Village, Talang Kelapo, Banyuasin
   Half a hectare of the total two hectares of burnt land was successfully extinguished.
2. Ibul Besar Village, Pemulutan, Ogan Ilir
   Half a hectare of the total 1.5 hectares of burnt land was successfully extinguished. 
3. Peranjen Village, Banyuasin
   500 meters² of the total two hectares of burnt land were successfully extinguished.
4. Kemiri Village, Rantau Bayur, Banyuasin
   One hectare of the total four hectares of burnt land was successfully extinguished.
5. Muara Sugih Village, Tanjung Lago, Banyuasin 
   0.1 hectares of the total 0.5 hectares of burnt land were successfully extinguished.

No information has been made available about the owners of the burnt areas in the five locations where fires were extinguished.

BNPB created an operational map to guide fire response in the lead up to and during the 2018 Asian Games in South Sumatra. The map is necessary, because currently each institution uses its own operational map.

BNPB’s integrated map focuses on the following points:

• Fire hot spots in South Sumatra
• Post locations for ground officers
• Water source locations

Coming into dry season, Pantau Gambut detected 539 fire spots in peatland restoration priority provinces, according to 17 July 2018 VIIRS data. Most are concentrated in Sumatra.

Of the 539 fire spots, 24 are in South Sumatra, 31 are in Jambi, and 208 are in Riau. Fire spots in these three regions have garnered national attention due to the likeliness that they will interfere with the Asian Games commencing on 18 August in Palembang, South Sumatra and in Jakarta.

Although national and regional governments have been working together to restore peatlands and put out fires, the large number of fire spots detected indicates that peatland fire prevention efforts are still lacking. Improving land management is the key to a long-term solution for Indonesia’s annual disaster.

The National Agency for Disaster Response (BNPB) prepared several action plans to anticipate forest and land fires, particularly during the Asian Games taking place 18 August–2 September 2018.

BNPB prepared action plans not only in South Sumatra, but also in nearby provinces such as Riau and Jambi. In South Sumatra, BNPB data indicates that there are 146 village areas from which fires would likely cause haze to reach the site of the Asian Games.

To minimize the risk of forest and land fires in these areas, the BNPB will:

1. Coordinate task units to patrol the area and fight fires if they occur,
2. Prepare air patrols to fight fires with helicopters that can hold 3,000–4,000 liters of water,
3. Generate artificial rains through weather modification technology in collaboration with the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT),
4. Socialize the public and regional heads about the threat of forest and land fires, and
5. Provide health and education services if forest and land fires occur.

Several regions have declared emergency alerts for forest and land fires. Such declarations are expected to increase fire prevention and response efforts by related parties.

On 28 May 2018, the Ministry of the Environment and Forestry noted that the Riau provincial government declared an emergency forest fire alert, effective until 30 November 2018. The National Agency for Disaster Response stated that Riau is one of four provinces that has stipulated an emergency forest fire alert.  Declaring this status is also an attempt to ensure forest fires are prevented and controlled so they don’t disrupt the Asian Games.

Riau initially set the emergency forest fire alert from 19 February–31 May 2018. However, several additional fires have since broken out, causing the provincial government to extend the alert status until 30 November.

Meanwhile, South Sumatra, which will host the 2018 Asian Games, has announced a fire alert effective 1 February–30 October 2018.

According to the National Agency for Disaster Response, the other two provinces, which are not directly related to the Asian Games but have stipulated emergency fire alerts, are West Kalimantan (with a fire alert effective 1 January–31 December 2018) and Central Kalimantan (with a fire alert effective 20 February–21 May 2018).

*This information has been updated with another emergency fire alert stipulated by the Jambi government. Detailed information can be found here.

The government, through the Ministry of the Environment and Forestry and BRG, recommitted to preventing forest and land fires, particularly in peatland areas, so the Asian Games would not be clouded by smoke.

As the legal umbrella of this effort, the Minister of the Environment and Forestry issued Decision Letter No. SK.224/MENLHK/PPI/PPI.4/5/2018 on Special Responses to Land/Forest Fire Crises in the Scope of the Ministry of the Environment and Forestry. The decision letter contains instructions to:

1. Establish a work team to investigate permit violation claims
2. Establish land and forest fire crisis posts
3. Establish regional assistance work teams
4. Temporarily assign Manggala Agni firefighters and distribute equipment to critical regions

Meanwhile, BRG Head Nazir Foead stated that BRG would send letters to the Association of Indonesian Forest Concessionaires and the Indonesian Palm Oil Association instructing them to ensure canals and dividers in their areas contain water, according to Kompas.

BRG utilizes technology from the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) and Japan, such as a water log telemetry device, to monitor peatland water conditions in real time. This device periodically sends data to the BPPT server, and the results are accessible through a smartphone application for Android. To date, devices have been installed in 90% of the peat areas prone to fires in South Sumatra, Riau, and Jambi.

The Asian Games will commence on 18 August 2018. The Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics forecasts that the event could coincide with the peak of the drought during an anticipated El Niño, increasing fire risks at this time. Preparations to address fire risks need to be undertaken not only in South Sumatra – particularly Ring I, including Palembang and the surrounding area where the Asian Games will be held – but also in Jambi and Riau. Fire prevention measures in Riau are important, because fires in this area generate smoke that could blow into Singapore, where many contingents will fly in to attend the Games.

The Ministry of the Environment and Forestry (KLHK) prepared an action plan to curb forest and land fires in 2018 in response to a forecasted heatwave, increasing the risk of fires during the 2018 Asian Games. The action plan covers:

1. Strengthening of Related Institutions
   Forest and land fire control task units will be activated at the national, provincial, regency, and even village level. Regional heads are requested to be more proactive in monitoring fire conditions in their regions and declare emergency alerts as appropriate.

2. Improving Early Detection Procedures
   Early detection actions include:

   • Monitoring hotspots through the Ministry of the Environment and Forestry’s online portal

   • On-the-ground patrolling by non-commissioned village officers, police officers assigned to villages as advisors on security and public order, heads of villages, the Fire Care Community, and the media

   • Routine patrolling by the Ministry of the Environment and Forestry’s Technical Implementation Unit, including the National Park, Natural Resources, and Ecosystem Service Unit

   • Air patrolling by both public and private sector actors

3. Strengthen Community Awareness
   Activities in the plan include campaigns, counseling, and the establishment of the Community Fire Brigades (MPA) or the Fire Monitoring Farmer Group (KTPA).

4. Strengthening Law Enforcement
   The plan proposes additional training for law enforcement officers and enhanced coordination on the ground.

5. Allocating Funding for Forest and Land Fire Control
   Funding for forest and land fire control is taken from:

   • The national budget allocated to ministries and other government institutions

   • The Shared Revenue Reforestation Fund, under the condition that at least 50% is used for forest and land fire prevention in high-fire-risk provinces

   • Local and/or village government budgets

   • Village funds

   • Other funding sources as per regulatory requirements