As a concrete demonstration of their commitment to combating forest and land fires (karhutla), PT Tunggal Perkasa Plantations, in collaboration with various government agencies and security forces, worked tirelessly to extinguish a fire that engulfed approximately 48 hectares of peatland in Penyaguan Village, Batang Gansal District, Indragiri Hulu Regency, Riau.
The fire, which has been burning since the end of July 2025, is being addressed by a collaborative effort from the Disaster Preparedness Task Force Team. This team comprises the Indragiri Hulu Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Fire Department, the Indonesian National Army (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), Manggala Agni (the Forest and Land Fire Control Agency), the Civil Service Police (Satpol PP), the Firefighting Team (RPK) of PT Tunggal Perkasa Plantations, and the RPKs of nearby companies. The joint team has been deployed to the field, which is primarily covered by fern and oil palm vegetation on peatland.
“Flat topography and the peat soil type are challenges in themselves because they allow the fire to spread below the ground surface,” said Ujang Rahaya, a member of RPK at PT Tunggal Perkasa Plantations.
With over 20 personnel from various organizations, the team conducted direct firefighting using specialized equipment, including Kohler water pumps, a total of 53 rolls of delivery hoses, nozzles, and both two- and four-wheeled vehicles. The fire reached flame heights of 50 to 200 cm, with both surface and ground fire types complicating efforts to completely extinguish it in a short amount of time.
According to reports, as of Saturday, August 2nd, the team had successfully extinguished approximately 4 hectares of the affected land. To date, they have controlled a total area of 26 hectares, leaving 22 hectares still under management.
Despite their diligent efforts and teamwork, the firefighters faced several challenges, including extreme weather conditions, fluctuating wind speeds, and the fire’s spread across multiple points. Access to the fire site was also limited, requiring the team to transport equipment and personnel by motorcycle for about 2 km from the main road.
“We are continuing to work on cooling down the points that are still emitting smoke. Water scarcity and weather conditions are challenges, but the team’s spirit remains high,” explained Ujang Rahaya.
Assistance from civil servants in Indragiri Hulu Regency, including Zainul Fuad, Adam Malik, and M. Yazid, was also provided, as they went directly to the field with fire department officers. Additionally, the residents of Penyaguan Village actively participated in supporting the firefighting efforts to prevent the fire from spreading further.
Extinguishing efforts will continue in the coming days, with additional personnel and optimized equipment. Collaboration between the business sector and government agencies is crucial to overcoming the threat of forest and land fires in Riau, which significantly impacts the health, environment, and socio-economic activities of the community.
These rapid actions align with national directives that emphasize the importance of multi-stakeholder synergy in comprehensive and sustainable forest and land fire control. PT Tunggal Perkasa Plantations reaffirms its commitment to supporting collective efforts aimed at preserving environmental sustainability and ensuring public safety.
Soruce: Pekanbaru Pos
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