Wildfires Remain Dozens of Kilometers From Nusantara’s Government Core
Kabarsaji.com – Wildfires in areas designated for Indonesia’s future capital, Nusantara, have prompted intensified monitoring, though the closest known fire remains roughly 30 to 40 kilometers from the Central Government Core Area, or KIPP.
Danis Sumadilaga, special adviser to the head of the Nusantara Capital Authority for construction policy and strategy management, said firefighting efforts are focused on stopping flames from moving into additional areas. The fires have appeared at multiple points within the broader delineated territory of Nusantara, but they have not reached the government center planned in North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan.
“The closest fire is about 30 to 40 kilometers from the Central Government Core Area of Nusantara,” Danis said in a written statement on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
Hotspots Draw a Multi-Agency Response
Authorities have concentrated attention on Bukit Tengkorak and Wonotirto, two locations considered important in the ongoing operation. A further hotspot was identified on Tuesday, September 8, near Kilometer 31 of the Balikpapan-Samarinda toll road.
That location was handled by a joint operation involving the Nusantara Capital Authority, the Indonesian Military, the National Police, and toll-road operator Jasa Marga. The Indonesian Air Force also took part by conducting water-bombing operations from the air.
The involvement of several institutions reflects the challenge of controlling vegetation fires before they expand across dry or difficult-to-access land. Ground patrols, continued observation, and rapid action at newly detected hotspots remain central to preventing a wider emergency near the capital project.
Danis said the overall number of hotspots has fallen, but teams have not reduced their vigilance. Patrols are continuing in affected areas so that any fresh fires can be addressed quickly.
“Even if new hotspots emerge, they can be dealt with immediately before the fires spread,” Danis said.
Understanding the 458-Hectare Figure
Officials have clarified that the 458 hectares cited in connection with the fires should not be read as one uninterrupted burn scar. The number covers an area where several separate hotspots have been found, while the land directly burned by fire is smaller because the incidents are concentrated in distinct locations.
“The actual burned area is smaller because the fires are concentrated at several hotspots,” Danis said.
The 458-hectare area is located in the Bukit Soeharto Grand Forest Park. National Disaster Management Agency chief Lt. Gen. Suharyanto said firefighting teams were still working to contain flames there during a hybrid disaster-response meeting on September 7.
For residents and observers following the development of Nusantara, the distinction matters. A fire within the capital’s wider designated area does not necessarily mean that the core government district is under immediate threat. Still, the presence of fire sites across the broader zone underscores why early containment remains a priority for authorities.
President Calls for Protection of the Core Zone
President Prabowo Subianto has instructed agencies to ensure that the fires do not advance toward the central area of Nusantara. Speaking during a limited meeting on disaster response at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday, September 7, 2026, he urged officials to use available resources to protect the planned government core.
“Don’t let the fires reach the core zone,” Prabowo said.
The instruction placed particular emphasis on the core zone in North Penajam Paser, where key government functions are intended to be centered. The current distance between the closest fire and KIPP offers a significant buffer, but it does not remove the need for active surveillance while hotspots remain present in the surrounding region.
A Wider Fire Emergency Across Indonesia
The fires near Nusantara are part of a much larger national challenge. As of September 7, Suharyanto said fires across West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, Riau, South Sumatra, and Jambi had affected 72,008 hectares.
Authorities had extinguished fires over 71,274.29 hectares of the land affected across those six provinces. The figures show that most of the identified burned area had received firefighting attention, while also illustrating the scale of work still required to prevent recurring hotspots and further spread.
In East Kalimantan, the immediate task is to maintain the separation between scattered fire locations and Nusantara’s government core. The combined use of patrols, ground teams, coordination with toll-road personnel, and aerial water bombing is intended to keep isolated incidents from developing into a broader threat.
Officials will continue monitoring Bukit Tengkorak, Wonotirto, the area around the Balikpapan-Samarinda toll road, and other sites where new hotspots may arise. With the number of hotspots declining, the emphasis has shifted toward rapid detection and containment before flames can spread beyond their current locations.
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