Press Releases Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food Strengthens Fire Preparedness Ahead of Dry Season

Ketapang, West Kalimantan & Lampung, 7 April 2026 – In anticipation of the 2026 dry season, which is forecast to arrive earlier than usual, Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food is strengthening its forest and land fire preparedness through firefighting simulations in West Kalimantan and Lampung.

This effort aligns with projections from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), which indicate that this year’s dry season is likely to be drier and longer, increasing the risk of forest and land fires in several regions.

The initiative forms part of the GAR Integrated Fire Management approach, which comprises five key pillars: prevention, preparedness, early detection systems, rapid response, and post fire monitoring and evaluation. The simulations in Ketapang and Lampung focus on strengthening prevention and preparedness, including the establishment and training of Emergency Response Preparedness Teams.

In Ketapang, West Kalimantan, PT Agro Lestari Mandiri, a subsidiary of Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, conducted simulations across four operational areas, involving emergency response teams, operational staff, and managers, with approximately 25 participants at each location.

The activities began with a joint assembly and inspection of firefighting equipment, including portable water pumps, fire hoses, and personal protective equipment. Participants then carried out field simulations, ranging from operating pumps and deploying hoses to spraying water at simulated fire points, supported by water tanker trucks on site.

The involvement of managers in these simulations is also important to ensure that command structures and emergency coordination are understood across all levels of leadership, not only by technical teams in the field.

“Preparedness is key in facing the dry season. It is not merely about having complete equipment, but ensuring that every individual, from field staff to managers, understands their roles and actions in emergency situations,” said Head of Fire and Peat Management Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, Anselmus Ahmad Suprianto.

Similar activities were also carried out by PT Sumber Indah Perkasa, another subsidiary of Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, in Lampung. This multi stakeholder effort included readiness roll calls, awareness sessions, and fire response simulations across the company’s operational areas, covering oil palm plantations and plasma smallholdings of nearly 25,000 hectares in Mesuji and Tulang Bawang.

During the exercise, PT Sumber Indah Perkasa deployed 30 trained internal personnel alongside 30 members of the Fire Aware Community (Masyarakat Siaga Api) who partner with the company. Equipment support included eight fire engines, portable pumps, backpack pumps, and other technical tools.

“We have dedicated fire prevention and response teams that work closely with sub district leadership and continue to coordinate with other stakeholders. Awareness efforts are also ongoing as part of our preventive measures,” said Region Controller PT Sumber Indah Perkasa, Humala Sinaga.

He added that the activities were further reinforced through the signing of a joint commitment among stakeholders, reflecting collaboration between the company, local government, security forces, and communities in preventing forest and land fires.

Through these efforts, Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food underscores the importance of preparedness supported by trained personnel, well maintained equipment, and strong coordination as part of broader risk mitigation to prevent forest and land fires that may impact the environment and surrounding communities.