REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Environment and Forestry Ministry is determined to do its utmost to make Indonesia free from smoke when it hosts the Asian Games 2018 from Aug 18 to Sept 2 this year. The ministry is working hard to prevent land and forest fires as the pan-Asian multi sport event draws nearer, Director of Forest and Land Fires Control at the Environment and Forestry Ministry, Rafles B Panjaitan, noted in a written statement released on Thursday.

Indonesia has successfully freed itself from smoke in the last couple of years. "Hotspots, which began to emerge in several vulnerable provinces such as South Sumatra, Jambi, and Riau, have been overcome as early as possible," he stated.

Also read: Asian Games must remain unaffected by forest fires: Jokowi

The integrated team has worked every day to anticipate and extinguish any forest and land fire by involving the Manggala Agni fire brigade of the ministry, police, military, private companies, and the community, among others, he remarked.

"We have received directives from Mrs. Minister (Siti Nurbaya Bahar) to be in full standby to face the Asian Games," he added.

The ministry has been deploying Manggala Agni fire brigades in 11 fire-prone provinces. In total, the fire brigades have 1,889 personnel equipped with facilities and devices to fight land and forest fires.

In addition, the ministry also has deployed fire brigades in natural resources conservation centers and national parks. In South Sumatra alone, the ministry has set up five fire brigades which are currently undergoing training.

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