The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has concluded its fire-fighting operations in Sumatra, Indonesia and returned to Singapore this afternoon. This marks the completion of the SAF's two-week deployment, as requested by Indonesian authorities,  to be part of the multi-national fire-fighting efforts in support of Indonesia.

The SAF deployed a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Chinook helicopter and 34 personnel on 10 October 2015, together with a six-man Disaster Assistance and Relief Team (DART) from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). Over the two weeks, the RSAF Chinook helicopter with a 5,000-litre heli-bucket had flown and discharged more than 400,000 litres of water, and extinguished more than 50 hotspots in Sumatra. Two RSAF C-130 aircraft were also deployed to transport the personnel and their equipment.  At the farewell event on 23 October 2015 held in Palembang Air Base, Deputy Head of the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) Mr Harmensyah thanked the SAF team for their contributions to assist in fighting the forest fires in Sumatra. He said, "It was absolutely a difficult task and assignment for us, but you all have done a great job. Your contributions really count." Mr Harmensyah added, "On behalf of the Government of Indonesia, and representing the Head of BNPB, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and deep appreciation for the contribution and hard work of the team and crew from Singapore who have worked hard for these last two weeks of the fire-fighting."

Chief of Defence Force Major-General (MG) Perry Lim received the returning personnel at Paya Lebar Air Base this afternoon, together with senior SAF officers including Chief of Air Force MG Hoo Cher Mou.