Forest and land fires around the Akelamo River area, Kawasi Village, Obi District, South Halmahera, have been jointly managed by the village government, local residents, and Harita Nickel since October 1, 2026.
The response has been led by Kawasi Village Secretary Frans Datang, together with more than 17 local residents and four representatives of the Kawasi Village Government. Working alongside Harita Nickel’s joint response team, they have been responding to fire hotspots and taking measures to prevent the fire from spreading.
“Managing this fire requires cooperation from all parties. The village government, community, and company are working together in the field according to their respective roles so that the fire can be brought under control quickly and prevented from spreading,” said Frans.
To support the response, Harita Nickel mobilized around 100 personnel from various business units, including Fire and Emergency Services, the Harita Nickel Obi Clinic (KHNO) medical team, and the logistics supply team. Equipment deployed included four water trucks, one fire truck, one ambulance, and three heavy equipment units.
Erich Mongdong, Fire & Emergency Services Superintendent of Harita Nickel, said that support from different business units was adjusted to meet conditions and needs in the field.
“The joint team continues to adjust its support based on conditions in the field. In addition to personnel and equipment, we also ensure that logistics and medical support remain available throughout the response,” said Erich.
In addition to supporting the operational needs of personnel, the KHNO medical team remained on standby to provide health support throughout the response. The involvement of Kawasi residents also helped strengthen fire control efforts in the affected area.
As of Sunday (October 4), firefighting and containment efforts were still ongoing, accompanied by monitoring of the affected area to anticipate the emergence of new hotspots and prevent the fire from spreading further.
“The prolonged dry season is a concern for us. Increasingly unpredictable weather conditions require greater awareness of potential fires. We encourage everyone to work together to protect the environment and immediately report any signs of potential fire,” said Frans.
Protecting the environment requires awareness and vigilance from everyone. By reminding one another, caring for the surrounding environment, and taking prompt action when potential fires are identified, the community and Insan Harita can work together to keep Obi safe and sustainable. Through these simple actions, the spirit of One Harita, Caring for One Another continues to grow in our everyday lives.