Pontianak, Oct. 29 -- Indonesia's National Police have named 245 people and 20 companies as suspects in forest and land fire cases across the country, the force's Criminal Investigation Agency said.

"Police will not allow forest and land fires, whether deliberate or caused by negligence, to damage the environment and harm communities," agency chief Asep Safrudin said.

Speaking in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, on Thursday, he said police were using scientific crime investigation methods to gather evidence for legal proceedings in forest and land fire cases.

Police recorded 287 reports involving individuals and fires affecting 5,859.12 hectares, leading to 245 people being named as suspects, he said.

West Kalimantan accounted for the larg...