‘Truly scared’: Indonesian firefighters struggle to contain Borneo blazes as haze chokes communities

Indonesian firefighters on Borneo island are grappling with an unprecedented blaze season, as a combination of factors threatens to overwhelm their efforts. The blazes have inflicted extensive damage and caused a suffocating haze that has trapped communities in its thick smoke. The Indonesian fire chief, Sampe Ritonga, says his team is struggling with limited resources, including only two fire engines, a scarcity of hoses, and a shortage of water sources.

Climate change, prolonged forest degradation, and slash-and-burn practices have compounded the problem, making the landscape more susceptible to fire. Heavy smoke from the fires has forced schools to close in West Kalimantan, with millions of residents breathing in unhealthy levels of air pollution. The Indonesian government has deployed nearly 14,500 firefighters and nine aircraft in an attempt to control the fires, but the situation remains dire.