Sumatra’s firefighters battle intense blazes and drought

In Indonesia, over 2,000 firefighters are working to contain widespread wildfires that have scorched over 200,000 hectares of land between January and July.

This year’s fire season has been especially challenging due to an exceptionally strong El Nino phenomenon bringing prolonged drought and extreme heat to Sumatra and Kalimantan. Firefighters like Rahmat Hadi Wijaya respond to multiple calls daily, battling flames for hours and then moving on to new outbreaks, often working from early morning to late at night.

The fires are complicated by the fact that much of the burning occurs on peatlands, which can smolder underground for weeks, and by dwindling water supplies making firefighting more difficult. The Indonesian government has deployed police, military personnel, and civilian volunteers to support the firefighters, and is using water-bombing helicopters, though their effectiveness is limited by smoke and the scale of the fires.

At least four firefighters have died on the job this year, and many are frustrated by the fact that the vast majority of fires are started by people clearing land or disposing of waste. Despite the exhaustion and risks, firefighters continue their work, motivated by the desire to protect communities and livelihoods, and by the gratitude they receive from residents.