Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – The Indonesian National Army (TNI) has deployed 920 soldiers to prevent and mitigate forest and land fires (Karhutla) in Riau Province. The Head of the TNI Information Center, Major General Kristomei Sianturi, claimed that the army is always present in the midst of the community in every threat that disrupts the nation's security.
"Handling Karhutla is not just about extinguishing fires, but part of preserving life, the environment, and the future of the younger generation," said Kristomei at the TNI Headquarters, Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on Friday, July 25, 2025.
According to Kristomei, the TNI's assistance in addressing Karhutla is in accordance with Law Number 3 of 2025 concerning the Indonesian National Army. Kristomei specifically highlighted Article 7 paragraph (2) letter b number 9. "Namely, assisting the government's tasks in the regions, including in dealing with forest fires, especially in vulnerable areas," he said.
The Ministry of Environment recorded the number of hotspots in Riau Province until July 20, 2025, as many as 27 active fire points. Within 24 hours, the burned land area expanded from 546 hectares to 1,000 hectares.
Closely located fire points are suspected to be due to repeated and organized intentional burning. This situation threatens public health, disrupts air quality, and damages Indonesia's commitment to controlling climate change.
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) mentioned that there are currently 135 hotspots in Riau, especially in Pelalawan and Rokan Hilir Regencies. The potential for land fires is very high on July 23 and 24, then decreased on July 25-27. The potential for Karhutla is predicted to increase again on July 29-31, 2025.
The Head of BMKG, Dwikorita Karnawati, said that Riau is one of the provinces that has entered the peak of the dry season. Riau's rainfall in the third ten-day period of this month has decreased to below 20 millimeters.
"This condition has the potential to trigger an increase in forest and land fires (karhutla) until early August," she said in a written statement on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
The Commander of the I/Bukit Barisan Military Regional Command (Pangdam I/Bukit Barisan), Major General TNI Rio Firdianto, attended the National Coordination Meeting (Rakornas) for Forest and Land Fire Control at Balai Serindit, the Official Residence of the Riau Governor, Pekanbaru, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. After the meeting, it was decided that the I/BB Military Regional Command deployed the 031/Wira Bima Regional Command, and prepared 920 soldiers as a Land Task Force.
The soldiers were directed to collaborate with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency, and the Riau Regional Police. All TNI forces in the Riau region were mobilized to support the prevention, handling, and mitigation strategies for Karhutla.
Legal steps to address karhutla
The Ministry of Environment sealed four plantation companies and closed a palm oil factory, following the rampant forest and land fires in Riau. This step is based on supervision results from January to July 2025.
Officials from the Ministry of Environment Law Enforcement (Gakkum KLH) found several hotspots in the concession areas of six companies. The decision to seal and stop operations was made after an analysis of these findings.
The Deputy of the Ministry of Environment Law Enforcement Inspector General Rizal Irawan stated that every permit holder must ensure that their land does not catch fire. Land managers found to be negligent or deliberately burning land will be firmly dealt with. "There is no room for tolerance, as mitigation is an inherent obligation in every concession," he said in a written statement on Friday, July 25, 2025.
The National Police Chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, said that 46 people have been designated as suspects for arson. "Earlier, the Regional Police Chief reported that there were 46 suspects who have been arrested and processed for their involvement in the arson," said the National Police Chief in his written statement on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Sigit said the Riau Regional Police are still investigating whether the 46 suspects intentionally or negligently caused the fires. Until now, he said, the fire has engulfed around 280 hectares of land.
– Defara Dhanya, Hammam Izuddin, and Muhammad Faizzaki contributed to the writing of this article.