Jambi (ANTARA News) - Jambi Police headquarters has dispatched about 1,000 of its personnel to help people in the province fight forest fires that have spread smoke in the region.

The spokesman of the Jambi Police, Adj.Sr.Comr. Yatim Suyatmo, said here Saturday the Jambi Police chief detected hundreds of hot spots when he monitored the fires from the air two days before.

The Jambi Police headquarters has dispatched some 1,000 policemen to extinguish the hot spots in cooperation with the Forestry Service of the province.

The hot spots that have sparked forest fires are mostly located in Kumpeh sub-district, Muaro Jambi regency. The land surface of the forest in that sub-district is covered by peat soil, which catches fire during the dry season.

The Jambi Police will take strict measures against those responsible for the forest fires and will bring the culprits to court for trial as their negligence has harmed people and spoiled the environment in the province, Suyatmo said.

Two suspects in fire cases in Tanjung Jabung Barat, Jambi, have been detained and the police expect the detention of more fire suspects, according to the spokesman.