Forest Fire Danger Rating System in West Kalimantan

Abstract

Land cover over West Kalimantan consists of forests, swamps mixed with peat, shrubs, and reeds. Field data of 2009 indicate that hotspots in the region mostly observed from May to August 2009. The largest number of hotspots indicate that region has great potential for experiencing forest fires. Impact of forest fires causes financial losses of local as well as non-local regions. The negative impact of forest fires can be minimized by makes plans of forest fire control, whereas the plan can be made easier if the level of fire danger could be known earlier. Keetch Byram Drought Index system is a popular system which is used to determine the rate of danger of forest fire in West Kalimantan. Calculation of this index only requires observational data of daily rainfall and daily maximum temperature. When a larger value of KBDI prevails, the potential of forest fires increases. On the other hand, when the value of KBDI is small, the probability of forest fire becomes less. Probability of forest fire in 2010 may be estimated fire danger rating using the previous data period. The average daily maximum value of KBDI in 1990 until 2009 show that West Kalimantan has a relative high level of fire danger. Region around Supadio and Sintang weather stations reach an extreme class value.