Forest fires to peak in August, September: Govt
Khairul Saleh, The Jakarta Post, Palembang | Wed, 07/22/2009 2:10 PM
South Sumatra Forestry Agency predicts that numbers of forest and land fires, known as hotspots, will peak in August and September in the province.
Achmad Taufik, a top official at the agency's forest and land fire management division, said Wednesday that the province had prepared four forest firemen posts to anticipate worsening fires.
The posts were set up in Kayu Agung, Pangkalan Balai, Merapi and Batulicin, all areas most vulnerable to fires, he said.
The number of hotspots in the province had been increasing each month. In January it recorded seven, eight in February, 52 in March, 82 in April, 126 in May and 186 in June.
The agency has prepared 2,500 cadets in 210 villages across the province to help fight fires. (dre)
