The East Java DPRD Member Sumardi Supports Strengthening the Capacity of Firefighter Volunteers

Collaboration Between Satpol PP and BPBD to Strengthen Firefighter Volunteers

JOMBANG — Firefighter volunteers are considered to play a vital role in disaster management, particularly in addressing the increasing risk of fires during the dry season.

For this reason, the East Java Provincial Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP) organized a training and capacity-building program for firefighter volunteers at the Rejosari Village Tourism Area, Wonosari District, Jombang Regency, on Thursday (07/05/2026).

The activity, conducted in collaboration with the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), was attended by approximately 100 participants from various disaster volunteer groups across Jombang Regency.

Head of the East Java Provincial Satpol PP, Andik Fajar Tjahjono, stated that the presence of volunteers is highly important due to the limited number of firefighting personnel in several regions.

According to him, community involvement is a key factor in fire response efforts, particularly in densely populated residential areas.

“The public must understand the initial steps to take and know whom to contact when a fire escalates,” said Andik Fajar Tjahjono.

The East Java DPRD Encourages Capacity Building for Disaster Volunteers

The firefighter volunteer training program received attention from the East Java DPRD member Sumardi, who emphasized the importance of such activities in improving volunteer readiness to face potential fires and other disasters.

“Our hope is that they will gain a proper understanding of the role of volunteers in disaster response and safety measures, especially in anticipating fire incidents,” said Sumardi.

According to him, firefighter volunteers serve multifunctional roles within society. Beyond assisting in fire response operations, they can also become part of broader social and disaster response volunteer networks after receiving adequate training and guidance.

“These volunteers will not only focus on firefighting, but can also become part of other social and disaster relief efforts. Therefore, they need to be equipped with both theoretical knowledge and practical training,” he explained.

During the training, participants received theoretical instruction as well as hands-on practice in using firefighting equipment. The program also included group exercise sessions to strengthen solidarity and maintain the physical preparedness of volunteers.

Sumardi revealed that the initiative was organized following aspirations conveyed by local volunteer groups, who hoped there would continue to be platforms for constructive and community-oriented activities despite ongoing budget efficiency measures.

“Previously, activities like this did not exist. Fellow volunteers in the regions expressed their hope that there would still be positive and beneficial programs for the community,” he concluded.

Disaster Volunteers as Strategic Partners in Disaster Mitigation

Sumardi emphasized that disaster response volunteers play a strategic role as partners of the government in strengthening community preparedness against potential disasters.

He expressed hope that similar training programs could continue to be conducted sustainably in order to further enhance the capacity of volunteers and enable them to deliver tangible benefits to the community.

According to him, strengthening the role and capability of volunteers is important not only for fire management efforts, but also as part of broader initiatives to reinforce the disaster mitigation system in East Java.