Indonesia Fire Hotspots Surge in 2026 Amid Super El Niño Threat
Indonesia has recorded more fire hotspot activity by late July 2026 than at any previous point monitored by satellite platforms, driven by severe dry conditions and an intensifying super El Niño. According to data from FireWatch, a satellite monitoring platform developed by the forest monitoring platform Nusantara Atlas and operated by technology consultancy TheTreeMap, more than 96,000 fire hotspots were detected across the country as of July 27, 2026.
The Power of Women Fighting Fires in Borneo
In the village of Sungai Putri on the Indonesian side of Borneo island, a 146-member all-female firefighting team known as the Power of Mama is patrolling high-risk areas to combat the crisis. Formed in 2022 by an NGO called YIARI, the volunteers range in age from 10 to 58 across 10 villages in West Kalimantan, according to field reports. Team members such as 39-year-old Irma wear full safety gear and heavy rubber boots, heading into fire zones on motorbikes to record coordinates, take photographs, and enter data into a special monitoring app. From 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily, these volunteers patrol plantation and forest boundaries, alerting the Manggala Agni specialized forestry brigade when they identify hotspots.
The group faces rigorous challenges, including breaking down village patriarchy and convincing local residents to stop illegally clearing land through slash-and-burn practices. “Sometimes they think we are showing off. They say, ‘What do mother folk know?’ When we ask them not to burn land carelessly, they can be stubborn,” says Suriati, a Power of Mama member. When the team identifies residents clearing land for palm oil, members like Ratinah explain the health risks of smoke to families while asking them to control and contain their fires. Despite initial skepticism from village men, the group won the Indonesian Clean Air Championship in 2023 for their conservation efforts.
Did you know? The Power of Mama team receives training ranging from firefighting techniques to operating surveillance drones and conducting community outreach, as noted by YIARI.
Satellite Data Shows Escalating Burned Areas Across Indonesia
FireWatch estimates that approximately 103,000 hectares of land burned nationwide during the first half of 2026, according to satellite analysis. While that total remains below the vast expanses destroyed during the severe fire seasons of 2019 and 2023—which burned more than 2.6 million hectares and 1.7 million hectares respectively—experts warn that Indonesia has not yet reached its peak burning months. Seasonal fire activity in Indonesia typically accelerates in August before peaking in September and October, according to historical tracking by FireWatch.
David Gaveau, founder of TheTreeMap, notes that the current hotspot surge should be viewed as an early warning rather than the peak of the fire season. Meanwhile, independent climate analysis by Berkeley Earth climate scientist Zeke Hausfather estimates a 90% chance that the developing El Niño in the tropical Pacific Ocean will become the strongest in approximately 150 years of observations, potentially exceeding the record-breaking 2015-2016 event.
Toxic Haze Spreads Across Southeast Asia
Weeks-long wildfires burning across Sumatra and Indonesian Borneo have generated a blanket of toxic haze enveloping parts of Indonesia and spreading internationally into Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, according to BBC reports. Millions of people across Southeast Asia have been exposed to the smog, which drove pollution levels in some areas more than 15 times above the World Health Organization’s recommended limit. Between July and August, Indonesia’s Health Ministry recorded over 50,000 cases of respiratory infections linked to land and forest fires, including more than 12,000 cases affecting children under the age of five.
In Sungai Putri, severe drought conditions compound the firefighting crisis. Irma reports that it has not rained in the village since late June, causing small ditches and rivers to dry up completely. “Our only option is to gather with the locals at the edges of the plantation or the forest to keep a constant watch on the fire’s progress,” Irma says. YIARI director Karmele Llano Sanchez emphasizes the difficulty of extinguishing peatland fires, which burn invisibly beneath the surface for weeks and can easily be rekindled by a light breeze.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Power of Mama?
The Power of Mama is Indonesia’s first-ever all-female firefighting team, formed in 2022 by the NGO YIARI. Comprising 146 women across 10 villages in West Kalimantan, the group patrols high-risk peatland areas, operates surveillance drones, and educates local communities about the dangers of illegal slash-and-burn land clearing.
Why are 2026 fire hotspots higher than previous years?
According to FireWatch satellite data, Indonesia recorded more than 96,000 fire hotspots by late July 2026, driven by dry conditions associated with a strengthening super El Niño event that is suppressing rainfall across the region.
How far has the wildfire smoke spread?
Wildfire smoke from Indonesian Borneo and Sumatra has drifted across national borders, blanketing parts of Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines in toxic haze that has triggered tens of thousands of respiratory infection cases.
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