Wildfire Spreads to SMKN 1 Timpah in Kapuas, Three Classrooms Burned

Wildfires in Timpah District, Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan, are now threatening public facilities. The flames have spread to the grounds of SMKN 1 Timpah, a vocational high school, destroying three disused old classrooms. Although the burned classrooms were no longer used for teaching, the incident serves as a stark reminder that educational facilities are also at risk as wildfires continue to spread in the surrounding areas. Kapuas Regent HM Wiyatno, accompanied by Regional Secretary Usis I Sangkai, personally inspected the school's condition after the fire. The inspection team also included Kapuas Police Chief AKBP Rina Perwitasari, several heads of regional agencies, Timpah District Head Jhonie, and elements of the Timpah District Tripika (police, military, and administrative representatives). According to Regent Wiyatno, the fire originated from a forest area behind the school, estimated to be about 215 meters from SMKN 1 Timpah. The fire then spread into the school grounds, engulfing the classrooms. This situation has heightened security concerns around the school, with efforts focused on preventing embers from reigniting and spreading to other buildings. Regent Wiyatno praised the swift response of the fire crews in extinguishing the blaze, cooling the area, and monitoring the surroundings. Previously, personnel from the KPHP Kapuas Hulu (Forestry and Environmental Management Unit) and the police had also conducted watering and guarding operations to prevent the fire from re-emerging. He stressed that the ongoing wildfires in Timpah require collective vigilance from the community. Educational facilities, as part of public services, must be protected, especially in fire-prone areas. The local government will continue to coordinate with relevant parties to help ensure the safety of school environments and surrounding communities. Post-fire recovery efforts will focus not only on extinguishing the flames but also on clearing debris and restoring the environment. Enhanced security measures are also necessary to prevent similar incidents. Regent Wiyatno reiterated his call for residents to refrain from using fire for land clearing and urged them to report any signs of fire, particularly those near settlements, schools, or public facilities, immediately. The fire was first detected in the forest area behind the school on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, around 11:15 PM WIB. The flames expanded on Wednesday, September 9, around 4:45 PM WIB, rapidly spreading to burn the three disused classrooms. Sriwati, the principal of SMKN 1 Timpah, noted that embers in peatland areas can reignite even after appearing extinguished, necessitating continuous efforts to prevent the fire from approaching the occupied school buildings. Watering operations are also underway in areas around the school that are still emitting smoke. Source: Detik