Volunteers battle underground fires as peatland blazes persist in Indonesia’s Central Kalimantan
Volunteers and emergency personnel battled underground fires in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, on 12 October, as footage showed embers burning beneath the ground and responders working amid intense heat and thick smoke.
- Volunteers and emergency personnel battled underground fires in Palangka Raya on Monday night, 12 October.
- Humanitarian activist Asrul Putra Nanda documented responders working amid embers, thick smoke and intense heat.
- Multiple agencies, volunteers and local residents continued efforts to contain fires at several locations in Central Kalimantan.
Volunteers and emergency personnel were seen fighting underground fires in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, on Monday night, in footage showing embers burning beneath the ground as teams worked to extinguish land fires.
The footage was shared on Instagram by humanitarian activist Asrul Putra Nanda, who said he witnessed volunteers from Rescue Rumah Zakat West Kalimantan battling the fire at about 10pm local time on 12 October.
“This is what is known as an underground fire, underground embers, or a fire hole, and this is what is happening with fires in Kalimantan,” Asrul said in his post.
The footage showed the difficulties faced by responders working amid flames, thick smoke and intense heat.
Multiple agencies take part in firefighting operations
Asrul said he had accompanied personnel from the Central Kalimantan police's Intelmob team and Rescue Rumah Zakat West Kalimantan to observe the operation at close range.
He thanked the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Indonesian military (TNI), the National Police (Polri), Manggala Agni forest-fire crews, Forest Management Units (KPH), joint firefighting teams, volunteers and other parties involved.
“Everyone has been fighting. Thank you to BPBD, the military, police, Manggala Agni, KPH, joint firefighting teams, volunteers and everyone involved. Please pray for Central Kalimantan,” he wrote.
In a subsequent post, Asrul said efforts to tackle the fires were continuing at other locations, with disaster management personnel, security forces, firefighting teams, volunteers from various organisations and local residents working to contain the flames.
He described the physical demands of the work, saying responders continued their efforts despite exhaustion, heavy breathing and sweat mixing with ash. He also highlighted the risks they faced while trying to protect others.
Dry peat can sustain fires beneath the surface
Underground fires can be particularly difficult to detect because embers may continue burning beneath the ground, out of sight from the surface.
Peatlands develop over long periods as vegetation decomposes incompletely and accumulates as organic material. Their condition depends heavily on maintaining sufficient moisture.
During dry periods, the organic material can lose moisture and become combustible, allowing fires to smoulder beneath the surface. Such fires may require large volumes of water and prolonged efforts to extinguish.
Extreme weather and excessive drainage can contribute to peat drying, leaving accumulated organic material vulnerable to burning. Heat and embers trapped deep within the ground can make these fires difficult to identify through visual observation alone.
Activist highlights the risks faced by responders
Asrul's posts focused on the efforts of volunteers and emergency personnel working at the fire sites, including the teams he accompanied in Palangka Raya.
He said their work involved more than extinguishing flames, highlighting their courage, dedication and concern for others as they continued working in hazardous conditions.
In his message to those fighting the fires, he offered a prayer for their safety and strength, asking that they be protected from danger and rewarded for their efforts.
The footage documented firefighting operations in Palangka Raya on Monday, 12 October, as teams from multiple agencies and volunteer organisations continued working to extinguish the fires.
