Thousands of firefighters and dozens of aircraft battle worsening fires fueled by drought and El Niño.
Indonesia is escalating its response to widespread forest and peatland fires as choking haze spreads beyond its borders into Malaysia and Brunei. With the prolonged dry season and strengthening El Niño conditions fueling the crisis, authorities are combining ground operations, water bombing, cloud seeding, and law enforcement to prevent the fires from worsening.
More Than 24,000 Firefighters Deployed
More than 24,000 ground firefighters have been deployed across Sumatra and Borneo as fires continue burning in several of Indonesia’s most vulnerable provinces, including Riau, South Sumatra, Jambi, and West, Central, and South Kalimantan. Drought, strong winds, dry vegetation, and difficult access have complicated containment efforts, with some hotspots unreachable by ground teams.
Dozens of Aircraft Join Firefighting Effort
Indonesia has significantly expanded aerial operations, deploying 30 aircraft for water bombing and cloud seeding over Kalimantan and another 22 helicopters over Sumatra. The Transportation Ministry has also authorized 35 foreign-registered aircraft to support water bombing and aerial patrols, allowing resources to be moved quickly between affected areas as fire conditions change.
Nearly 94,000 Hectares Burned in July
The scale of the crisis is becoming increasingly severe, with Forestry Ministry data indicating that nearly 94,000 hectares burned in July alone. Satellite monitoring showed South Sumatra with 1,429 hotspots, followed by West Kalimantan with 1,226 and Central Kalimantan with 811, while substantial numbers were also recorded in East Kalimantan, Riau, West Papua, and Jambi.
Police Arrest 72 Over Suspected Fires
Authorities are also targeting suspected human causes behind the fires. Indonesian police have arrested 72 people suspected of starting forest and peatland fires, while four companies are under investigation for allegedly using fire as a low-cost method of clearing land. President Prabowo Subianto has called for stronger prevention and public education while promising additional resources for firefighting operations.
Haze Crosses Into Malaysia and Brunei
Smoke from the Indonesian fires has crossed into neighboring Malaysia and Brunei, turning the emergency into a regional environmental problem. Indonesia has authorized Malaysian aircraft to enter its airspace for coordinated cloud-seeding operations, while nearly 600 schools in Sarawak were closed last week, affecting about 200,000 students. For Indonesians, controlling the fires is increasingly urgent for public health and environmental protection, while Malaysia and Singapore remain exposed to transboundary haze when wind conditions carry smoke across borders.
Indonesia’s expanding aerial and ground operations demonstrate the seriousness of the current wildfire crisis, but weather conditions and widespread peat fires make rapid containment difficult. Stronger enforcement, prevention, regional cooperation, and sustained firefighting will be essential as the dry season continues. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, successful containment is critical not only for protecting forests but also for preventing another prolonged haze emergency across Southeast Asia.
Sources: Asia One (2026) , AP News (2026)
Keywords: Indonesia Wildfires, Transboundary Haze, Kalimantan Fires, Sumatra Fires, Malaysia Haze, Aerial Firefighting
