Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA) – The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has provided two patrol helicopters to assist in the management and prevention of forest and land fires in Riau Province.Head of Emergency and Logistics at the Riau Regional Disaster Mitigation and Fire Response Agency (BPBD Damkar), Jim Gafur, stated that the two helicopters are currently stationed at the Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base in Pekanbaru and are ready for operation.”We have received two patrol helicopters from BNPB: a Bell 206 B3, Reg PK-FPA, and a Bell 206 L4, Reg PK-ZGK. Both are already at the Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base,” he said in Pekanbaru on Sunday.According to Gafur, the helicopters will be used to monitor forest and land fire conditions across Riau. If a fire is detected during a patrol, it will be reported immediately so a joint team can be deployed to extinguish it.In addition to patrol helicopters, the BNPB has previously sent aircraft for weather modification operations in Riau Province, targeted at coastal areas with reduced rainfall.So far this year, the authority has recorded forest and land fires in 11 districts and cities across Riau, with the total affected area reaching 1,161.64 hectares.The 11 regions impacted by the fires include the districts of Bengkalis, Kepulauan Meranti, Siak, Kampar, Pelalawan, Indragiri Hulu, Indragiri Hilir, Kuantan Singingi, and Rokan Hilir, as well as the cities of Dumai and Pekanbaru.The BNPB previously warned that forest fire risks are emerging in several regions, including Riau, where a decline in rainfall has pushed the fire potential to a moderate level.To this end, the agency is strengthening coordination with Regional Disaster Mitigation Agencies (BPBDs) to ensure rapid emergency response and maintain accurate data on the impact.