The forestry and palm oil associations say faster access, clearer communication, and coordinated firefighting are essential to containing fires before they spread and cause wider damage.
PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA — The Indonesian Forest Concessionaires Association (APHI) and the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) are calling for stronger multi-stakeholder cooperation and a joint protocol to accelerate the response to forest and land fires, known locally as karhutla.
The proposed protocol is intended to ensure firefighting teams can reach fire locations quickly and operate without delays caused by access limitations or coordination problems in the field.
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APHI and GAPKI said effective forest and land fire management requires the involvement of all stakeholders, including local communities, companies, regional governments, the Indonesian Military (TNI), National Police (Polri), Manggala Agni, and Regional Disaster Management Agencies (BPBD).
During emergencies, communities are also encouraged to support firefighting efforts by providing access for teams working to contain the fires.
APHI Chairman Soewarso said companies holding Forest Utilization Business Licenses (PBPH) have prepared personnel and resources for forest and land fire prevention and control. These include command posts, vehicles, pumps, water sources, and firefighting equipment.
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In certain circumstances, company firefighting teams also assist in dealing with fires outside their concession areas. Such efforts are aimed at preventing fires from spreading to forest areas, settlements, community land, and other operational areas.
“Fire recognizes neither administrative nor concession boundaries. When a fire is detected around an operational area, immediate action is needed to prevent it from developing into a major fire with wider impacts,” Soewarso said in an official statement received by PalmOilMagazine on Saturday (Aug. 22, 2026).
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Early Response Critical to Fire Control
Soewarso emphasized that the first few hours are critical to successful firefighting, particularly in peatlands and areas experiencing dry conditions.
Delays can make fires increasingly difficult to control, especially when fire locations are far from water sources or accessible only through limited routes.
He stressed that firefighting operations should not be viewed as an attempt to take over or control community land. They are emergency measures intended to stop the spread of fire, protect human safety, and prevent further environmental damage.
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Meanwhile, GAPKI Chairman Eddy Martono said palm oil companies continue to strengthen their preparedness for forest and land fires through routine patrols, hotspot monitoring, firefighting teams, high-capacity pumps, water tankers, heavy equipment, drones, and other supporting facilities.
During emergencies, company personnel and equipment can also be deployed to help fight fires around their operational areas. However, Eddy said the effectiveness of such assistance depends heavily on access and coordination with local communities and other stakeholders.
“Firefighting personnel and equipment are only effective if they can reach the fire quickly. That is why collaboration and open access are critical. We must not lose valuable time because of misunderstandings or poor communication,” Eddy said.
Eddy said cooperation between companies and communities is already well established in many areas. Community Fire Awareness Groups, farmer groups, village governments, traditional leaders, authorities, and companies have played important roles in early detection and fire response at the local level.
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GAPKI Pushes Village-Level Emergency Systems
To strengthen coordination, GAPKI is urging villages with high forest and land fire risks to establish emergency contact numbers, a single communication channel, firefighting access maps, water-source locations, and lists of personnel who can be contacted immediately when a fire is detected.
Eddy said these mechanisms are needed to ensure information can be delivered quickly, reduce misunderstandings, and accelerate decision-making during fire emergencies.
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APHI and GAPKI emphasized that forest and land fires are a cross-boundary issue that cannot be addressed by any single stakeholder. Governments, communities, and companies must work together with clearly defined roles in both fire prevention and suppression.
The two associations are therefore urging regional governments to facilitate the development of collaborative fire response protocols before the peak of the dry season.
The protocols should clearly define responsibilities, communication channels, access to fire locations, and procedures for deploying personnel and equipment while respecting community rights.
Early coordination can help minimize misunderstandings and prevent resistance to firefighting operations. Rapid response is critical to containing fires at an early stage before they escalate into larger incidents that could cause greater losses to communities, businesses, and the environment. (P3)
