South Kalimantan governor calls for mask use as wildfire smoke spreads

South Kalimantan governor calls for mask use as wildfire smoke spreads

South Kalimantan Governor H. Muhidin has called on residents in areas affected by forest and land fires to wear masks to protect themselves from smoke exposure, emphasizing that public health protection remains a priority as fires continue to burn across the province.

Speaking in Banjarbaru on Monday, Muhidin urged residents to take distributed masks seriously. "If masks are distributed, please take them and wear them," he said, noting that protecting public health was essential as smoke continued to spread from several hotspots.

Hotspots and firefighting efforts

The province recorded 17 high-confidence hotspots as of August 19, contributing to a three-province total of 518 hotspots across West, Central, and South Kalimantan. A special team has been formed to accelerate firefighting efforts at three priority locations in Banjarbaru: 700 hectares in Pengayuan, 300 hectares in Liang Anggang, and 120 hectares in Guntung Damar, with authorities targeting containment within two weeks.

The fires in Guntung Damar are burning through peatlands one to three meters thick, where flames continue to smolder beneath the surface even after appearing extinguished above ground. This makes the fires particularly difficult to control and prolongs smoke exposure for nearby communities.

Health risks and medical care

Residents near the fires face heightened vulnerability to health problems from prolonged smoke exposure. Muhidin urged anyone experiencing health complaints, particularly symptoms of acute respiratory infections, to seek immediate care at health facilities prepared in affected areas.

"There are health services in Guntung Damar and Pengayuan. If you have an acute respiratory infection or any other problem, get examined immediately," he said.

The severity of the smoke was evident on August 20, when visibility dropped to around 10 meters in some areas, affecting motorists and disrupting daily activities. Indonesia's weather agency expects El Niño conditions to persist into early 2027, with August to September identified as the critical period for forest and land fires.

National and regional impact

Across Indonesia, approximately 3 million people have been exposed to wildfire smoke as of August 2026, according to Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin. The Health Ministry has recorded around 15.6 million cases of acute respiratory infections nationwide since January 2026, about 200,000 more than during the same period in 2025.

Forestry ministry data shows that 202,004 hectares of land had been affected by wildfire from January to July 2026 across Indonesia, a sharp increase from 107,465 hectares burned from January to June.

The impact of the Kalimantan fires has extended beyond Indonesia's borders. More than 100 schools were closed in Malaysia's Sarawak state in the week prior to August 21 to protect children from worsening haze caused by forest fires in neighboring Indonesia.

Call for public awareness

Muhidin emphasized that responding to forest and land fires involves not only extinguishing flames but also protecting people living near affected areas. He urged residents not to ignore air quality warnings when smoke appears and to remain attentive to their health.

The governor stressed that public awareness of health protection must complement efforts by government and other stakeholders to tackle forest and land fires in South Kalimantan. He called on health services in affected areas to remain ready to treat residents suffering health problems caused by the smoke.