Eidokristo Ade Putra / XI MIA 3

Spreading Forest Fires

| Readers Forum | Mon, March 10 2014, 11:00 AM

We didnt start the fire: A firefighter extinguishes peatland fires in

Pelalawan, Riau, on Wednesday. Haze from forest fires has reached an
alarming level and thousands are suffering from respiratory
problems. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama
Alas, we are starting to get serious about haze mitigation. There should be
a special brigade that disseminates information to residents of the
affected areas. Their respective village chiefs must be tired of having to
reprimand the recalcitrant farmers.
Also, there must be other methods that can be used to clear land as
opposed to just the slash-and-burn technique.
Helicopters need to continuously patrol and the pilots should be in direct
communication with the firefighters on land to allow for better
communication.
Permanent water pipes can also be installed in fire prone areas, but
villagers need to be provided with a sufficient supply of water so they
wont be tempted to steal water from the pipes.
Hopefully we can put a stop to these fires, which aside from harming our
people, they also annoy our neighbors.

Moeljono Adikoesoemo
Jakarta