{
  "id": 10841030,
  "title": "Women fight fires, sexism in Kalimantan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/women-fight-fires-sexism-in-kalimantan",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T03:01:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Jakarta Post",
    "slug": "the-jakarta-post",
    "url": "https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2026/09/30/women-fight-fires-sexism-in-kalimantan.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Women are combating fires in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, despite facing sexism from the community. The \"Power of Mama\" initiative, formed in 2022, consists of over 100 women who volunteer to patrol for smoke and flames daily. These \"Mamas,\" as they call themselves, are spread across a dozen villages in the Ketapang regency, a region where traditional gender roles define women as primary caregivers and homemakers, and where firefighting is typically a male domain.\n\nRamilah, a 46-year-old homemaker and mother, joined the initiative to protect the forest and counter the toxic haze emitted by peatland fires. She starts her day with housework and caring for farm animals, then joins the fire patrols from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. before returning home for the rest of the day. Peatland fires are common in Kalimantan, often smoldering and spreading under the soil for weeks or months, emitting large quantities of smoke and sometimes causing surface blazes.\n\nRamilah has experienced sarcastic remarks and a sexist backlash, but the community has started to accept her role. The initiative was inspired by the hardships faced during the 2019 wildfires during another severe El Nino weather phenomenon. Nearly 900,000 hectares of land have burned in Indonesia this year, more than five times the size of Greater London. The resulting haze has spread to neighboring countries, closed thousands of schools, caused tens of thousands of respiratory infections, and endangered countless wild animals.\n\nDespite some in the community disliking the women's fire prevention activities, Melyanti, a 25-year-old carer for the elderly and part-time firefighter, states that they will help if they can. The women wear protective gear, including orange jump suits, rubber boots, surgical masks, and hard hats, to combat the toxic smoke. The \"Power of Mama\" initiative has faced challenges but is proving that women can be capable fire fighters, and attitudes are beginning to change.",
  "summary": "Housework in the morning followed by several hours of firefighting: women in West Kalimantan risk life and limb to battle blazes making their communities sick, all while shouldering a sexist backlash.",
  "key_points": [
    "Over 100 women form 'Power of Mama' initiative in West Kalimantan, Indonesia.",
    "Mamas volunteer to patrol for smoke and flames daily, despite sexist backlash.",
    "Peatland fires cause toxic haze, endangering health and wildlife."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The growing acceptance of women like Ramilah and Melyanti as firefighters in West Kalimantan signals a shift away from traditional gender roles, showing that community attitudes can change over time.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}