New Hotspots Near Settlements as Pangkep Karst Fire Reaches TN Babul Core Zone

PANGKEP, JurnalPost.com— The fire in the Pangkep karst region of South Sulawesi remains a serious concern as new hotspots continue to emerge near residential areas. Entering the fifth day of operations, the affected area is estimated to have reached nearly 26 hectares, with parts of the fire spreading into the core zone of Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park (TN Babul).

Head of the Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park Office, Abdul Rajab, stated that the rugged karst terrain makes some hotspots difficult for personnel to reach. This condition is exacerbated by strong winds, which can carry embers and hot debris to other locations.

“New hotspots keep appearing, and some are quite far from the initial site. The karst terrain and strong winds are the main challenges in the firefighting process,” said Abdul Rajab.

According to him, the emergence of new hotspots near settlements is not solely caused by the direct spread of flames.

Leaf litter, twigs, and hot rocks from the burning karst area can fall to lower elevations, subsequently triggering new fires in dry vegetation.

This situation forces personnel to divide their focus between extinguishing fires in accessible areas and ensuring the flames do not spread to residents' homes.

Focus on Protecting Residential Areas

Abdul Rajab explained that some hotspots are located in crevices and on the upper parts of karst cliffs that are too risky to access directly.

Personnel safety is a primary consideration, preventing crews from forcing firefighting efforts in locations with steep cliffs.

“There are spots that are impossible to climb because it is very dangerous for personnel. Therefore, the main focus now is securing the area around the settlements,” he said.

Approximately 30 Manggala Agni personnel, supported by staff from the National Park Management Sections I and II, continue to conduct operations in the field.

For accessible areas, personnel are using water pumps and hoses. In more remote and difficult-to-reach locations, firefighting is being conducted using jet shooters.

However, the large number of scattered hotspots means personnel cannot address all locations simultaneously.

Fire Area Increases to Nearly 26 Hectares

On the first day of the incident, the fire area was estimated to be between 10 and 15 hectares.

With the emergence of new spots and wind conditions driving the fire's spread, the affected area is now estimated to be nearly 26 hectares.

The fire has also crossed several zones within the Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park.

“From the wilderness zone, the fire has crossed several sections to reach the core zone area,” said Abdul Rajab.

Nevertheless, the fire is currently reported to be isolated around the Minasa Te'ne area and has not been reported to have spread to other regions.

Personnel continue to monitor the situation, as the direction of the fire's spread can change at any time depending on wind conditions.

Manggala Agni Gowa Task Force Requested to Add Personnel

To strengthen firefighting operations, the Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park authorities have coordinated with the Manggala Agni Gowa Task Force.

Additional personnel are needed to help handle the scattered hotspots, especially in locations near residential areas.

“We have coordinated with the Manggala Agni Gowa Task Force. With the addition of personnel, it is hoped that the handling of hotspots can be more effective,” said Abdul Rajab.

In addition to official support, the involvement of the local community is also considered important.

Residents around the area are urged to be vigilant regarding the potential emergence of embers or new hotspots, especially those originating from burning material falling from the upper karst sections.

Abdul Rajab hopes that the community will immediately report any sightings of fire or smoke near settlements so that personnel can respond more quickly.

Firefighting Dependent on Weather

It is not yet certain when all hotspots can be completely extinguished.

The terrain makes it practically impossible to reach a number of spots on the peaks or in karst crevices using ground-based firefighting equipment.

Therefore, weather conditions are a crucial factor in accelerating the response.

“We hope the wind will subside soon. If it rains, it would certainly be very helpful in extinguishing the hotspots in the upper areas that are difficult to reach,” said Abdul Rajab.

Until such conditions occur, firefighting operations remain directed at accessible locations while strengthening the protection of residential areas.

Personnel are also continuing to conduct patrols to detect new hotspots as early as possible.

With the fire area approaching 26 hectares and flames having reached part of the national park's core zone, response efforts are expected to continue until the entire area is confirmed safe from the potential of secondary fires.