TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Forest Fire Task Force Team in South Kalimantan plan to sink peatlands that are burning in an effort to extinguish the fire. The Riam Kanan Irrigation flow will be closed off and the water flow will be diverted to the burning peatlands.

"Nine-hundred hectares of peatlands that will be submerged," South Kalimantan Forestry Agency chief Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said in Banjarbaru, Wednesday, September 18.

He said that this method is more practical and cheaper compared to water bombing using the air force's helicopter, because "hot spots have gone deep into the ground".

The South Kalimantan Forestry Office is also discussing the possibilities of using peat syringe technique, like what was done in Banjarbaru area neat the Syamsudin Noor Airport area.

"This peat injection extinguisher is plugged into the ground to spread water, so that the fire is completely extinguished and wont reignite at random times," Hanif said.

According to the South Kalimantan Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the size of burned land has reached 3,545 hectares in the province. The haze from the fires is a danger to residents and is disrupting flight activities at nearby airports.

The Forest Fire Task Force Team in South Kalimantan plan to sink peatlands that are burning in an effort to extinguish the fire. The Riam Kanan Irrigation flow will be closed off and the water flow will be diverted to the burning peatlands.

"Nine-hundred hectares of peatlands that will be submerged," South Kalimantan Forestry Agency chief Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said in Banjarbaru, Wednesday, September 18.

He said that this method is more practical and cheaper compared to water bombing using the air force's helicopter, because "hot spots have gone deep into the ground".

The South Kalimantan Forestry Office is also discussing the possibilities of using peat syringe technique, like what was done in Banjarbaru area neat the Syamsudin Noor Airport area.

"This peat injection extinguisher is plugged into the ground to spread water, so that the fire is completely extinguished and wont reignite at random times," Hanif said.

According to the South Kalimantan Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the size of burned land has reached 3,545 hectares in the province. The haze from the fires is a danger to residents and is disrupting flight activities at nearby airports.

ANTARA