When a fire breaks out, every minute matters. Quickly identifying fire hotspots, mobilizing personnel, and ensuring that equipment is ready for use are critical to preventing fires from spreading. This underlies Astra Agro’s proactive efforts to support the management of forest and land fires, commonly known in Indonesia as karhutla, which have affected various parts of the country.
Through its subsidiaries across multiple operational regions, Astra Agro continues to strengthen its preparedness for forest and land fires. In addition to prevention and monitoring within its operational areas, the company also provides support and assistance when fires occur in surrounding areas, including incidents outside its concessions.
This support includes deploying firefighting teams, vehicles and firefighting equipment, heavy machinery, constructing firebreaks, and providing water sources. All assistance is tailored to conditions and needs on the ground to help contain fires, prevent them from spreading, and accelerate firefighting efforts.
Taking Action Across Multiple Regions
From June to August 2026, various Astra Agro subsidiaries across different regions monitored fire incidents and assisted with firefighting efforts. In Sumatra, particularly Riau, five Astra Agro subsidiaries supported the response to 65 fire incidents in surrounding areas requiring assistance. Personnel and equipment readiness were also strengthened through preparedness briefings and regular inspections of firefighting facilities.
In Central Kalimantan, eight Astra Agro subsidiaries provided assistance during 12 fire incidents, while in East Kalimantan, support was provided for seven incidents. Assistance involved deploying personnel and firefighting resources according to conditions at each location.
Meanwhile, in South Kalimantan, six Astra Agro subsidiaries, together with GAPKI South Kalimantan, helped respond to 30 fire incidents. This collaboration plays an important role in strengthening response capacity, as forest and land fire management requires synergy among companies, government agencies, law enforcement and emergency response personnel, communities, and other stakeholders.
In August 2026, Astra Agro subsidiaries in South Kalimantan also held a preparedness briefing as part of efforts to strengthen readiness for potential forest and land fires. The activity further enhanced coordination and ensured that available resources could be mobilized when needed.
Similar support was also provided in West Sulawesi and Central Sulawesi. Astra Agro subsidiaries in both regions assisted in responding to five fire incidents by deploying resources and coordinating with relevant parties.
Fire Management System
Astra Agro’s response to fire incidents forms part of its Fire Management System, which encompasses a comprehensive series of measures, from prevention and monitoring to preparedness and response.
During monitoring activities, hotspot conditions and weather patterns are among the key factors being observed. Astra Agro utilizes Automatic Weather Systems (AWS) and weather information from Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) to strengthen awareness of potential fire risks.
Firefighting equipment and facilities are also inspected and maintained regularly. Meanwhile, personnel capabilities are strengthened through training, inspections, preparedness briefings, and forest and land fire response simulations.
Simulations play an important role in ensuring that personnel understand emergency procedures, equipment operation, communication protocols, and the division of responsibilities when responding to emergencies. Through regular exercises, team readiness can be continuously evaluated and improved.
Rapid Response and Collaboration
Forest and land fire management involves more than extinguishing flames. Every response must take into account field conditions and personnel safety. Coordination and communication are therefore essential throughout the response process.
The support provided by Astra Agro across multiple regions demonstrates that addressing forest and land fires requires sustained preparedness. This includes monitoring weather conditions and hotspots, ensuring personnel and equipment are ready, and mobilizing assistance whenever fires occur.
Through continued improvements to its Fire Management System and collaboration with various stakeholders, Astra Agro remains committed to contributing to forest and land fire prevention and response efforts, both within its operational areas and in surrounding areas where assistance is needed.
