Strengthening Manggala Agni’s (Forest Fire Brigade) Capacity in South Sumatra

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The Directorate of Forest Fire Management (PKH), Directorate General of Forest Law Enforcement, Ministry of Forestry (MoF), together with Korea-Indonesia Forest Cooperation Center (KIFC), have strengthened the capacity of Manggala Agni through a Technical Training (Bimtek) on Water Pump Maintenance and Warehouse Management, held at the Manggala Agni DAOPS XVII Sumatra/Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) Headquarters, South Sumatra (May 14-16, 2025).

This training, attended by 20 Manggala Agni personnel, is a key component of the Project on the Development of Forest and Land Fire Management System in South Sumatra, Indonesia, a collaborative effort between the MoEF of the Republic of Indonesia and the Korea Forest Service of the Republic of Korea.

In his opening remarks on behalf of the Director of Forest Fire Control, the Sub-Director for Forest Fire Suppression, Israr Albar, emphasized that pump mechanic skills are a crucial part of the overall firefighting operations in the field.

“If pump machines are not properly maintained, the fire suppression process will slow down, increasing the risk of the fire spreading,” explained Israr.

A similar sentiment was expressed by Jeong Cheol-Ho, Korean Co-Director of KIFC, who stated that pump maintenance is a critical part of forest fire suppression efforts.

“Through this Korea–Indonesia cooperation, we aim to support more sustainable and resilient Indonesian forests,” added Jeong.

To mark the opening of the training, Kuswandono, Indonesian Co-Director of KIFC, along with the Head of the Sumatra Regional Forest and Land Fire Control Center (Balai Dalkarhut), and the Head of Section III of the same institution, symbolically presented name tags to participant representatives from South Sumatra, Lampung, and Jambi.

Kuswandono explained that the three-day training on Pump Mechanics and Warehouse Management would include both theoretical and practical sessions, covering:

  • Basic forest fire theory
  • Forest fire control equipment management
  • Operation and maintenance of firefighting equipment
  • Pump engine maintenance, including:
    • Standard pump operation procedures
    • Light maintenance
    • Routine maintenance protocols
    • Troubleshooting pump operation issues, delivered by expert practitioners in the field

In 2025, KIFC will continue its capacity-building initiatives for Manggala Agni, focusing on technical maintenance of two- and four-wheeled vehicles, Manggala Agni Competency Certification, and other training programs as needed.

Additionally, the Directorate of Forest Fire Control (PKH) and KIFC are currently developing a Forest and Land Fire Management Center at the Manggala Agni Daops XVII Sumatra/OKI Headquarters. This will be Indonesia’s first—and Southeast Asia’s pioneering—centralized forest fire control hub, equipped with a training center and command center facilities.

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