The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) is carrying out massive and integrated efforts to suppress forest and land fires across six priority provinces as dry conditions peak. According to BNPB Head Suharyanto, burned areas are expanding across provinces where peatlands are a priority due to a strong El Niño predicted by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) for 2026. National data as of September 8, 2026, shows that the estimated total area of burned land across South Sumatra, Jambi, Riau, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan reached 76,922.3 hectares.
Firefighting Methods and Peatland Challenges
To combat the blazes, the agency is deploying weather modification operations, ground and aerial firefighting, and strict law enforcement. According to Suharyanto, weather modification operations have proven the most effective method because the resulting rainfall can cover vast areas. Ground firefighting ranks second in effectiveness, particularly for tackling difficult underground peatland fires, while water bombing ranks third due to a limited payload capacity of about four tons per sortie. Suharyanto noted that these three methods are inseparable, explaining that water bombing knocks down the fire front so ground crews can safely douse the terrain without facing extreme risks.
Peatland fires demand specialized handling because embers can continue to smolder deep underground even after surface flames appear to go out. To counteract this, the agency uses peat injection nozzles to pump water one to two meters deep into the soil. Official figures show that out of 72,009.10 hectares of burned peatland recorded through September 6, 2026, exactly 939.45 hectares remained under intensive firefighting efforts. Among the three affected provinces in Kalimantan, South Kalimantan has experienced relatively milder fire impacts.
Did You Know? Out of the 72,009.10 hectares of burned peatland recorded through September 6, 2026, exactly 939.45 hectares remained under intensive firefighting operations by BNPB crews using specialized peat injection nozzles.
Preventive Cloud Seeding and Presidential Directives
The BNPB head stressed directives from the president and vice president to maximize weather modification operations whenever rain clouds show the slightest potential to produce rainfall. These directives apply to areas across Kalimantan and Sumatra that are currently free of fires as well. Suharyanto cited Banjarmasin as an example, where cloud seeding was carried out despite a lack of active fires in the city after the BMKG identified potential rain clouds, protecting the area from drifting smoke originating from neighboring districts.
Expert Insight: Managing widespread peatland fires during peak dry conditions requires balancing immediate aerial suppression with preventative meteorological interventions. By deploying cloud seeding proactively over unburned zones like Banjarmasin, disaster mitigation officials attempt to neutralize drifting smoke hazards before regional air quality degrades further.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the six priority provinces for fire mitigation in 2026?
The six priority provinces are South Sumatra, Jambi, Riau, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan.
Which firefighting method is considered the most effective by the BNPB?
Weather modification operations are considered the most effective method because the resulting rainfall can cover vast areas.
How does the agency extinguish underground peatland fires?
The agency uses peat injection nozzles to pump water one to two meters deep into the soil to reach embers that continue to smolder beneath the surface.
What measures are being taken to protect areas without active fires?
Authorities are executing proactive cloud seeding whenever rain clouds show potential to produce rainfall, such as in Banjarmasin, to protect cities from drifting smoke from neighboring districts.
How large was the estimated total area of burned land as of September 8, 2026?
National BNPB data shows the estimated total area of burned land across the six priority provinces reached 76,922.3 hectares.
How do smoke conditions and firefighting strategies continue to impact local communities across Kalimantan and Sumatra?
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