Full Breakdown
Indonesia’s 2026 Borneo Wildfires: Volunteer Women, International Aid, and a Growing Health Crisis
By Drooid · · How we work
The Escalating Blaze
Indonesia’s Borneo island has been shrouded in orange-colored smoke as of September 24, 2026, marking the worst wildfire season in more than a decade. The fires, intensified by a “super” El Niño, have burned peatlands that smolder underground, making extinguishment difficult. Indonesia’s forestry minister warned that the season could extend to early November, beyond the usual July-October dry period. Government data show that from January to July 2026, fires consumed roughly 202,000 hectares. Independent monitoring by the Nusantara Atlas platform reports 895,657 hectares burned nationwide since January.
Volunteer Women on the Frontlines
In West Kalimantan’s Ketapang region, more than 140 women form the all-women firefighting group “Power of Mama.” Trained by the non-governmental Indonesia Nature Rehabilitation Initiative Foundation (YIARI) in 2022, they patrol ten villages on motorcycles, record hotspots, and extinguish small fires while advising neighbours against slash-and-burn clearing for oil-palm plantations. YIARI supplies mobile phones and lunch allowances but does not permit the volunteers to tackle large blazes.
> “These women felt like the forests are theirs, safeguarding them with all their heart,” — YIARI's Mita Anggraini
International Assistance
Japan has deployed a dedicated firefighting detachment. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force transport ship JS Kunisaki arrived off Ketapang on September 21, 2026, carrying a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force CH-47 Chinook helicopter. After initial smoke-related delays, water drops began on September 16, 2026, using river water in underslung buckets. Two additional CH-47s operate from Kijing Port, while a third remains aboard the ship, enabling simultaneous operations across West Kalimantan.
Malaysia has launched cloud-seeding missions in Sarawak and other affected states, while Japan’s Self-Defense Forces continue water-bombing flights.
> “From the air to the ground, all forces continue to move. Everything is being done to extinguish the fires, reduce the impact of the smoke, and, most importantly, protect the public,” — Teddy Indra Wijaya, Indonesia's cabinet secretary
Health Impact
The health ministry reports 175,000 cases of acute respiratory infection (ARI) recorded between a late-summer period and 21 September 2026 across 63 districts in six provinces, including 40,363 cases among children under five. The BBC notes that wildfire-related respiratory illnesses rose to 113,336 by September 9, 2026, up from 50,891 on 1 September. Air-quality monitoring shows hazardous conditions, with the AQI in Sampit reaching 1,142 on September 10, 2026.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Burned area: Government figures (202,000 ha Jan-July) differ markedly from the Nusantara Atlas total (895,657 ha since January) and the Guardian’s estimate of close to 300,000 ha for the same period.
- Health statistics: The health ministry’s 175,000 ARI count exceeds the BBC’s 113,336 wildfire-related tally, reflecting differing definitions and reporting windows.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It’s trending far higher than 2019 or even 2023,” — David Gaveau
- “Ever since the haze hit, we haven’t opened our doors or windows in a long time. The wind carries smoke from the fires all the way to our porch. Ash and smoke seep directly into the house, and the conditions worsen at night,” — Ely Marlina
Outlook
Experts project that fire activity could peak this month and persist until the rainy season begins in November, though the exact trajectory will depend on rainfall, cloud-seeding effectiveness, and continued international support.