Peatland Fires in South Kalimantan Require Special Technology, Lawmaker Says

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Forest and land fires in peatland areas of South Kalimantan require specialized firefighting technology because peatland fires are not always visible on the surface. Flames can spread and burn through layers beneath the ground.

Member of Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR), Abdul Wachid, said this characteristic makes tackling fires in peatlands different from dealing with conventional land fires. Therefore, methods and technology are needed to detect and extinguish fire hotspots beneath the surface.

"The forest fires in South Kalimantan are indeed very specific. That means they require special treatment because these are fires involving peatland. They cannot be seen with the naked eye—there may only be smoke, while the actual burning is taking place underground," Wachid said during the House’s visit to South Kalimantan on Friday, August 28, 2026.

According to him, the situation requires further study to determine the most effective methods of tackling the fires. One option under discussion is the use of suppression or injection techniques to reach the sources of fires beneath the surface.

"This is what we will discuss with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and the regional disaster management agencies. Based on this information, we will also work together on mitigation efforts, not only with the BNPB but also with the relevant ministries," he said, as quoted by the House’s website on Monday, August 31, 2026.

Abdul Wachid said peatland characteristics are among the main challenges in dealing with forest and land fires in South Kalimantan. Unlike conventional land fires, where flames are visible and can be tackled from the surface, peat fires can continue burning underground even with no visible flames.

"Peatland fires are different from fires in other types of land, where the flames are visible on the surface, and the fire is burning above ground. In this case, there may be no visible flames, but the ground beneath is burning. This is why we need specialized treatment," he stressed.