Jakarta: Indonesia is facing a growing wildfire crisis as firefighters work to control large fires across several parts of the country during an unusually dry season. The situation has become particularly serious in areas of Java, Sumatra and Borneo, where fires have damaged forests, grasslands and peatlands and sent thick smoke into nearby communities.
One of the most visible fires has been burning around Mount Bromo in East Java. The fire started last week inside Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, one of Indonesia’s best known natural and tourist areas. Firefighters have now largely contained the blaze, but teams are continuing to deal with several hot spots that could spread again if dry conditions continue.
The fire has affected nearly 900 hectares of land in the national park. Large areas of dry grass and vegetation have been burned, along with protected Edelweiss flowers that are closely associated with the mountain landscape. The park has been closed to tourists while authorities continue their firefighting and monitoring operations.
Although the Bromo fire is coming under control, authorities are facing a much larger problem elsewhere in Indonesia. Fires have affected more than 107,000 hectares of land across the country during the first six months of this year. That is more than twice the area affected during the same period in 2023.
The most serious fires are concentrated in several provinces on Sumatra and Borneo. Nearly 48,900 hectares of peatland have been affected in Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan.
Peatland fires are especially difficult to control because the fire can continue burning beneath the surface even after the flames appear to have disappeared. This allows fires to return and makes firefighting operations more difficult. The burning peat also produces large amounts of smoke, creating serious problems for people living nearby.
In Jambi province on Sumatra, fires have already produced heavy smoke in some communities. One of the largest fires has affected areas around Sungai Gelam, where dozens of hectares of oil palm plantations have been damaged. Hundreds of firefighters and disaster response workers have been sent to fight the flames.
The smoke is also affecting daily life. In West Kalimantan, poor air quality has forced schools to close and move classes online. Dozens of schools have remained closed as authorities try to protect children from unhealthy air. The haze has also reached neighbouring Malaysia, where parts of Sarawak have recorded unhealthy air quality.
Indonesia has increased its firefighting efforts as the situation develops. Authorities have deployed thousands of firefighters and disaster personnel, along with helicopters and fixed wing aircraft to carry out water bombing and fire monitoring operations. The government has also started cloud seeding in an attempt to bring rain to affected areas.
However, the lack of suitable clouds has made it difficult to carry out these operations effectively. Weather conditions remain a major challenge as the country moves deeper into the dry season.
Authorities have linked the severe conditions to a strong El Niño weather pattern, which has contributed to hotter and drier conditions. Experts and officials are concerned that the risk of new fires could remain high through the coming weeks, particularly during August and September.
Human activity is also considered an important factor in many Indonesian fires. Land clearing for farming, plantations and other activities can leave large areas of dry vegetation that can burn quickly. When fires are started deliberately or accidentally, dry conditions can allow them to spread rapidly.
The current crisis is therefore more than a single wildfire around a famous tourist destination. The Bromo fire has attracted attention because of its location and environmental importance, but the widespread peatland fires in Sumatra and Borneo could have a much wider impact.
If the dry weather continues, Indonesia could face more fires, worsening air pollution and further disruption to schools and communities. Smoke from peatland fires can also travel across national borders, making the problem a regional concern for Southeast Asia.
For now, authorities are focusing on containing existing fires while watching for new outbreaks. The progress at Mount Bromo offers some relief, but the wider situation remains serious. With the dry season continuing and large areas of land already affected, Indonesia faces a difficult battle to prevent the wildfire crisis from becoming even more severe.