As forest and land fires (Karhutla) escalate in Riau Province, the rapid response and commitment of PT Riau Sakti United Plantations (RSUP)'s standby firefighting team have once again been demonstrated. Working in collaboration with the 11/Pulau Burung Military District Command (Koramil) from Kodim 0314/Inhil, the joint team successfully extinguished a fire on community land in Paret Atas, Mekar Jaya Hamlet, Pulau Burung District, Indragiri Hilir Regency on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
The fire was detected around 11:00 AM WIB when hotspots began appearing in a community plantation area. Hot weather and strong winds posed a significant risk of rapid fire spread. Responding to this emergency, PT RSUP immediately deployed its trained firefighting team with complete equipment to the location. PT RSUP, part of Sambu Group, a Domestic Investment Company (PMDN), maintains a strong commitment to Karhutla prevention and management.
Andy Ferial, Head of Public Relations for PT RSUP, stated that this readiness is a standard company procedure for addressing the threat of Karhutla, particularly around its operational areas. "When we received reports of a hotspot, our Karhutla standby team immediately coordinated with local authorities, in this case, Koramil 11/Pulau Burung, and swiftly moved to the location. Our top priority is to ensure the fire does not spread and can be extinguished immediately to protect the environment and community plantations from greater losses," said Andy Ferial.
Intensive firefighting efforts lasted for nearly eleven hours. The joint team from PT RSUP and the TNI worked shoulder-to-shoulder, sweeping the burnt area to ensure no embers could reignite the fire. Thanks to their synergy and tireless hard work, the fire was brought under control and fully extinguished before 10:00 PM WIB. The Commander of the 11/Pulau Burung Military District (Danramil), First Lieutenant Inf Delmy Armansyah, expressed high appreciation for PT RSUP's speed and full support.
"We highly appreciate the quick response and seriousness of PT Riau Sakti United Plantations. The solid collaboration between us in the field was vital to the success of this firefighting operation. The availability of personnel and equipment from PT RSUP significantly accelerated the extinguishing and cooling process," stated First Lieutenant Inf Delmy Armansyah. Another noteworthy aspect is that PT RSUP extinguished a fire not within its operational area, but on community land. Without hesitation or self-interest, the PT RSUP Karhutla team directly intervened to put out the fire and prevent its spread.
The Danramil added that synergy among the TNI, companies, and the community is the main key in Karhutla prevention and handling efforts, in line with directives from central and local governments that have declared a Karhutla Emergency Response status for Riau Province. Riau Province is currently facing serious challenges related to Karhutla. The Riau Provincial Government officially declared a Karhutla Emergency Response status on July 22, 2025, following a significant increase in the number of hotspots in various districts, including Indragiri Hilir.
In addition to its robust fire standby team, the company regularly conducts integrated patrols, socializes the dangers of land clearing by burning to the community, and invests in fire prevention infrastructure and technology. "We are well aware that prevention is the best step. However, when a disaster like this occurs, we are ready to be on the front lines to help. This is part of our social responsibility and a concrete manifestation of our commitment as a national company that cares about the environment and society," concluded Andy Ferial.