A fire watch that starts before the fire
Peat burns in dry years. In Riau, village fire teams are equipped and paid for the whole dry season, not called in after ignition.
Drained peat burns in dry years, and a peat fire is slow, deep and hard to put out once it takes hold. The programme's answer in Riau is to staff the watch before the dry season starts.
Village fire teams are equipped and paid, and linked to the district fire agency so a report from the ground reaches the people who can respond. Every response is recorded.
Neither the dam nor the fire team works as well alone.
Why rewetting and fire watch go together
A closed canal keeps the dome wetter through the next dry season. A fire team keeps a spark from reaching the peat that is still dry. That is why both sit inside the same village agreements.
Peat under rewetting
The workplan also commits the programme to strengthening nine Community Fire Prevention Groups (MPA) in the province.
