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Air Force Mayor Ferry Duantoro had shared that fire was raging in Tasik Serai,Bengkalis, Riaum Indonesia on Sunday (20 August).
An Indonesian Air Tractor plane was conducting a routine patrol in the area when the pilot noticed the huge fire.
The patrol team immediately coordinated with The Air Task Force Land and Forest Fire Prevention Riau to put out the fire, which at least burned 30 hectares of the area.
About 127 members of The Army Task Force Land and Forest Fire Prevention Riau was trying to extinguish the fire from the land, the fire which has got smaller suddenly got bigger and trapped the team inside.
The Air Force team conducted water bombing to extinguish the fire from the helicopter. However, the fire was still not under control.
Bengkalis Police Chief Hadi Wicaksono said that the difficult terrain along with the lack of water resources made the extinguishing effort harder.
As of the last news update at Monday afternoon, the Indonesian army and air force are still trying to put out the fire.
