In brief
In central Kalimantan, a BBC reporter follows a central team fighting peat fires that have turned the country’s skies grey and threatened health and trade in nearby Singapore and Malaysia. Peat, a carbon‑rich soil layer that dries in drought, turns products of ordinary forest fire into a slow‑burning inferno that can smolder underground for months. These underground flames release more carbon, harder‑to‑extinguish smoke and toxic gases that travel far from the blaze. The article describes how the fires started, the science of peat combustion and the international push for better fire‑management policies.
What causes peat fires to be a world‑wide threat?
The smoldering blaze began in the peat‑rich wetlands of central Kalimantan, when spring rains failed to revive the soil. As the wetland dried, small fires started from agricultural clearing or lightning strikes. Once a fire can reach the underground peat layer, it can continue burning below the surface for months, even after the surface looks extinguished.
Unlike ordinary forest fires, peat releases more carbon dioxide, methane and particulate matter. The smoke is denser and travels farther, drifting over to Singapore, Malaysia and parts of Thailand. Millions of people in these regions have reported breathing difficulties and cardiovascular symptoms during peak haze.
Why are peat fires so hard to put out?
- If a fire penetrates the dry peat layer, the underground bed continues to burn unseen, driving fire crews to dig deep trenches for days.
- Peat stores an enormous amount of energy; once ignited, each kilogram of peat can burn for a week or more, converting a small spark into a massive slow‑smoldering engine.
- Firefighters often lack specialized equipment and training for smouldering peat; conventional water sprays are less effective against the deep, char‑filled pores.
- In some areas, the peat has been compacted by mining or drainage, increasing its combustibility and reducing the ability of natural water bodies to flood it.
Officials say that climate change has not only dried the wetlands more regularly but also increased the likelihood of lightning strikes during thunderstorms.
What is the international response?
Singapore and Malaysia have issued health advisories, urging hospitals to limit airborne filtration and encouraging citizens to stay indoors on high‑smoke days. Air‑traffic regulators have postponed flights that would cross the haze corridor.
Indonesia’s government, with aid from NGOs and the United Nations, is investing in better monitoring tools and fire‑fighting teams skilled in peat trenches and controlled burns. International citizens and businesses are calling for sustainable peatland management and tighter regulations on slash‑and‑burn farming.
Will the haze clear?
Experts say that while the densest haze may lift as fire activity decreases in the wet season, the problem remains endemic. With rising temperatures, another dry spell could reignite the peat ‘ghosts’ beneath the burned landscapes.
Listeners can follow the battle in real time through our interactive timeline below, which tracks key events, air‑quality alerts and the responses from local and global agencies.
Real‑time Timeline- April 2 – First reports of peat ignition in Sukamara district.
- April 8 – Haze spreads to West Jakarta, forcing traffic restrictions.
- April 15 – Singapore new air‑quality alert issued for PM2.5 levels.
- April 22 – International firefighting teams arrive in Kalimantan.
- May 5 – Peak haze recorded at 400 µg/m³, leading to health advisory.
- May 18 – Planned controlled burns begin to pre‑empt further spread.
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