Reporting on the conditions on the ground in Tanjung Puting, Zainul told Prabowo at the meeting that the fires were scattered across swampy areas that are difficult for vehicles to access.
“There are not only orangutans in the area. There are many dangerous wild animals, including crocodiles, snakes and others … Entering the area requires particular attention and caution,” said Zainul.
He added that a team comprising the military, local disaster management agency, regional government and the police has been formed to ensure the safety of personnel entering the affected areas.
Zainul also flagged a shortage of water pumps needed for firefighting operations, which Prabowo agreed to provide.
“How many water pumps do you need? Fifty? I will send 200,” Prabowo said.
Zainul, the regional military commander, also sought assistance in drilling wells, saying that the swampy terrain meant that water could not be obtained at depths of around 10 to 15 metres.
Prabowo then pledged 2 billion rupiah (US$111,800) to build 200 boreholes in the area.
At the same meeting, Suharyanto, the BNPB chief, said that a total of 639.23 hectares remained on fire across the six priority provinces as of Monday.
The widespread land and forest fires have caused transboundary haze in the region, with schools closed in parts of Malaysia.