Honorary Stars for Those Who Fell While Fighting Amidst Forest Fires

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto awarded the Pratama Honorary Star to 15 volunteers and officials who lost their lives in the line of duty while combating forest and land fires (karhutla).

The awarding ceremony was held at the Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java on Friday (13/11/2026) and was based on Presidential Decree (Keppres) No. 94 TK Year 2026 concerning the Granting of Honorary Stars.

During the occasion, Prabowo also expressed his condolences to the families of the volunteers and officials who perished while fulfilling their humanitarian duties.

"On behalf of the government, the nation, and the state, as well as on behalf of all Indonesian people and myself, I would like to extend my deepest condolences for the sacrifices made by the volunteers and officials who are the husbands or fathers of the relatives present here this afternoon," Prabowo stated in a press release received by Kompas.com on Friday.

Prabowo acknowledged that the loss of family members is a heavy burden.

Therefore, he assured that the government would continue to provide support and attention to the surviving families.

"On behalf of the state and the government of Indonesia, I want to convey that you will not face the future alone. The state will accompany you. We will provide aid so that you can live safely and comfortably," emphasized Prabowo.

Here is the list of the 15 volunteers and officials who received the honorary star:

• Ahmadin (Provincial Firefighter Volunteer, Central Kalimantan)

• Letkol (Posthumous) Dudi Firmansyah (Captain of MI-17V5 Helicopter)

• Aries Sutio Luthfi Hadi (Fire Awareness Community, Central Kalimantan)

• Amang Udin (Barisan Pemadam Kebakaran Volunteer, Central Kalimantan)

• Sukaris (Operational Service Operator, Ministry of Forestry)

• Suraji (Security Officer, PT Mitra Indo Permai, Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park)

• Akhmad Rizani (Provincial Firefighter Volunteer, Central Kalimantan)

• Munawi (Community Partner of the Forest Rangers, Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park)

• Padayya (Manggala Agni Pemula, South Sulawesi)

• Kapten Cpm (Posthumous) Nurhafiz Akbar (Co-pilot of MI-17V5 Helicopter)

• Wisnu Yuda Pratama (Staff, PT Mitra Indo Permai, Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park)

• Hendra Rony Wagiyanata (Manggala Agni Pemula, Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park)

• Sertu (Posthumous) Heri Prasetyo (Crew of MI-17V5 Helicopter)

• Sefriel Ardiansyah (Staff, PT Mitra Indo Permai, Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park)

• Yayan Supyansuri (Helicopter Landing Officer, BNPB)

Scholarship Awards

In addition to awarding the Pratama Honorary Star, Prabowo also provided full scholarships to the children of the deceased volunteers and officials.

Prabowo stated that their education would be guaranteed up to the highest levels possible.

"For all your children, the government guarantees their education by providing full scholarships up to the highest level they wish and are capable of achieving. I have instructed the ministers and coordinators that your children will be placed in our best schools, such as Taruna Nusantara High School, Garuda High School, and the best government elementary and junior high schools," said Prabowo.

He acknowledged that the aid and scholarships cannot replace the loss felt by the families left behind, but at least the families would not be alone and would always have government support.

"Once again, I extend my condolences on your sacrifices from myself, the government, and all the people," he added.

Struggles and Sacrifices

Hendra Rony Wagiyanata, a personnel of Manggala Agni Pemula from the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, lost his life while responding to forest fires on Thursday (15/10/2026).

Kristina Ningsih could hardly contain her emotion as she received the Pratama Honorary Star on behalf of her late husband from President Prabowo.

For Kristina, the award signifies the state's recognition of her husband's dedication to preserving forests and the environment.

"I am incredibly touched, as his struggle has been acknowledged by the President himself. I am very grateful, thank you very much to Pak Prabowo; my husband’s efforts reached the Palace," Kristina said.

She reminisced about the incident that claimed her husband’s life.

At that time, Hendra was carrying out his firefighting duties as usual.

However, in the afternoon, the family received news that several personnel had been caught in the flames during duty.

Kristina then accompanied her husband for treatment.

Unfortunately, that night, Hendra was pronounced dead.

"We received news in the afternoon that some personnel had indeed been caught in the fire, and then we accompanied him for treatment until it was declared in the evening that he could not be saved," she recounted.

Similarly, the family of the late Yayan Supyansuri, a Helicopter Landing Officer from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) from Tangerang Regency, expressed their emotions.

"Sadness mixed with pride," said Radhitya, the brother of the late Yayan, when contacted by Kompas.com on Friday.

The late Yayan was posthumously awarded the Pratama Honorary Star.

The resident of Kebon Kelapa, Pasar Kemis District, Tangerang Regency, was recognized for his significant contributions to humanitarian efforts and karhutla mitigation while serving as the HLO of a BNPB Super Puma H225/VH-HGM helicopter.

He perished after the helicopter he was on crashed into the Barito River in Barito Kuala Regency, South Kalimantan, on Sunday (8/11/2026).

Yayan was survived by an eldest child in elementary school and a youngest child around seven months old.