PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – In response to the rising threat of forest and land fires during the 2025 dry season, Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food has reinforced its fire prevention and mitigation efforts. In partnership with Manggala Agni, the fire control brigade under the Ministry of Forestry, the company is conducting year-round training for Emergency Response Preparedness (ERP) teams across five fire-prone regions, including South Sumatra, Riau, and West Kalimantan.
Since 2018, this collaboration has trained more than 1,200 ERP volunteers. This year, 225 personnel have been mobilized to respond to fire alerts and hotspots within their respective areas. The training program is built on three key pillars: prevention, suppression, and post-fire management. Modules include community education, fire simulation drills, risk mapping, and rapid response strategies, with the goal of containing fires within 24 hours of detection.
“This approach reflects our commitment to protecting what matters most—from people and company assets to the environment we share,” said Haskarlianus Pasang, Head of Operations Sustainability at Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com on Friday (September 12, 2025). He added that the company continues to leverage technology to prevent and control fires, reduce emissions, and safeguard environmental sustainability.
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Echoing this, Anselmus Ahmad Supriyanto, Head of Peat and Fire Management at Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, emphasized that fire prevention success depends not only on technical capacity but also on community awareness and participation. “Our ERP personnel are change agents. Beyond mastering equipment, they inspire communities to care for the land we all protect,” he said.
To broaden its impact, the company also partners with Masyarakat Siaga Api (Community Fire Watch), a grassroots initiative that focuses on fire monitoring and reporting. This collaboration is reinforced by advanced technology, including GeoSMART Fire (GSF) integrated within the Sustainability Information System (GSIS), as well as AI-powered CCTV installed in Riau and West Kalimantan concessions. The AI system can detect smoke within a 10-kilometer radius and often identifies fire risks faster than satellites.
By combining training, community empowerment, and cutting-edge technology, Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food reaffirms its commitment to strengthening preparedness, reducing emissions, and protecting the environment from the threat of forest and land fires. (P2)
