Prabowo orders tougher action on Indonesia fires; foreign offers to help tackle haze not discussed

Forest and land fires are uncontrolled fires burning vegetation, forests, grassland or ground surfaces. They matter because their smoke can cover wide areas, reduce visibility and harm public health. In this case, fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan produced thick smoke that blanketed parts of the region.

The smoke becomes haze when large amounts of fine particles and gases remain suspended in the atmosphere. Wind can carry that polluted air beyond Indonesia’s borders. The article links the haze to fires that disrupted flights, closed schools and raised health concerns in Indonesia, while Singapore and Malaysia also experienced its effects.

Indonesia is trying to contain the fires with more than 60,000 personnel across six provinces. Thick smoke and difficult terrain have slowed the work. The cross-border impact has also created diplomatic pressure, with Singapore and Malaysia offering support and seeking stronger action against the fires.

The emergency covers six provinces in Sumatra and Kalimantan, where more than 60,000 personnel have been deployed. This shows the fires are spread across a large area and require coordinated operations involving national agencies, local authorities and communities. Thick smoke and difficult terrain have made the response harder.

The public-health toll is also substantial. Indonesia’s Health Ministry recorded 174,694 cases of acute respiratory infections in seven affected provinces between Aug 18 and Sept 21. These cases show how the smoke is affecting people beyond the immediate fire zones, even though the health figure covers seven provinces rather than the six provinces named for deployment.

The government has used helicopters, but most firefighting remains ground-based. It is also testing a fire suppressant and planning a nationwide awareness campaign. The scale means suppression, health protection and prevention must continue together.

President Prabowo Subianto ordered the National Disaster Mitigation Agency to step up firefighting operations. He gave particular attention to Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra, where fires and haze have caused serious disruption. He also called for closer coordination with local authorities and communities and ordered a nationwide public awareness campaign.

The orders came after fires disrupted flights, forced school closures and raised health concerns. Prabowo was also concerned about the impact on neighbouring countries. His target, according to Dudung Abdurachman, is to bring the fires under control as soon as possible. More than 60,000 personnel are already deployed across six provinces.

Indonesia has not declared the fires a national disaster for now. Dudung said the government is “still capable of handling it.” That position could change if the response becomes insufficient, but the article records no decision to make such a declaration.

Severe haze affects daily life by making the air unhealthy and visibility dangerously low. Indonesia’s Health Ministry recorded 174,694 acute respiratory-infection cases in seven affected provinces between Aug 18 and Sept 21. Schools have closed in affected areas, and communities have protested over the fires and demanded tougher action.

Transport is also vulnerable. In South Sumatra, visibility fell to between 500m and 800m, preventing aircraft from landing in Palembang for several days. Helicopter firefighting has also been difficult because smoke blocks aerial operations, leaving most firefighting to ground teams.

The haze does not stop at Indonesia’s borders. Singapore and Malaysia have felt its effects and Malaysia has complained about transboundary haze. Singapore offered support, while Malaysia offered aircraft, helicopters and personnel. The situation has therefore become both a public-health emergency and a regional diplomatic issue.

Peatland fires are difficult because peat can burn below the visible ground surface. The flames may appear limited while heat and fire continue underground. This allows burning to persist even after surface flames are reduced, making the fire harder to locate and fully extinguish.

Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian said peatland fires require large volumes of water. Firefighters must therefore do more than spray the visible flames. They need to soak the affected ground deeply enough to stop the hidden burning. This is especially demanding across large, difficult areas.

The challenge is increased by thick smoke and difficult terrain. More than 60,000 personnel are working across six provinces, but most firefighting remains ground-based because aerial operations are difficult. Indonesia also tested a Brazilian powder mixed with water in South Sumatra, although claims about its effectiveness have not been independently verified.

Singapore and Malaysia are offering help because smoke from Indonesia’s fires is affecting their territory and people. Malaysia offered aircraft, helicopters and personnel. Singapore’s environment minister said the country stood ready to assist Indonesia’s firefighting efforts. Their offers reflect the fact that the haze is not confined to the fire sites.

The mechanism is regional spillover. Fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan generate smoke, and that haze spreads across national borders. It can affect health, visibility and transport in neighbouring countries. Malaysia has also faced complaints and protests about responsibility for the haze, including a Greenpeace rally outside Parliament.

The issue has prompted official contact. Indonesia’s foreign minister discussed firefighting with his Malaysian counterpart after a call between Prabowo and Malaysia’s prime minister. Indonesia said it appreciated the offers, but Prabowo’s Oct 12 meeting did not discuss accepting foreign help.

Heat and dryness make vegetation and other land surfaces easier to ignite and allow fires to spread more readily. The article says Indonesia is facing an unusually severe fire season because prolonged heat and dryness were worsened by a very strong El Nino. Fires then burned large areas of Sumatra and Kalimantan.

The article does not describe specific land-clearing fires. In general, however, using fire to clear land can create ignition points. When surrounding vegetation and soil are unusually dry, a small burn can escape control and spread. Smoke from many fires can then combine into regional haze. This general mechanism explains why prevention matters alongside suppression.

Indonesia’s government ordered closer coordination with local authorities and communities to prevent fires. It also ordered a nationwide public awareness campaign. The current response must therefore address both active fires and the conditions and practices that allow new fires to start.