Indonesia Intensifies Forest Fire Response With Air and Ground Forces
Kabarsaji.com – Indonesia has expanded its response to land and forest fires by placing dozens of aircraft and more than 54,000 personnel in affected areas, as a sharp increase in detected hotspots raises concern over smoke, public health, and environmental damage.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said the national effort combines aerial water bombing with extensive field operations intended to put out active fires, limit their spread, and reduce the effects of haze on nearby communities.
“From the air to the ground, all resources are constantly mobilized. Everything is being done to extinguish the fires, reduce the impact of the smoke, and most importantly, protect the public from the threat of forest and land fires,” Teddy said in an official statement on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
64 Aircraft Assigned to Water Bombing Missions
Since August, authorities have deployed 64 aircraft to support firefighting operations. The fleet includes 55 aircraft operated through the National Disaster Management Agency, or BNPB, and nine aircraft from the Indonesian National Armed Forces, known as the TNI.
These aircraft are being used for repeated water bombing missions over fire-prone locations. Their role is particularly important where access by road is limited, where fires cover wide areas, or where flames burn in peatland zones that can be difficult to extinguish from the ground.
“Since August, 64 aircraft have been deployed for water bombing, supported by 54,394 joint personnel who continue to operate in the field, reaching fire hotspots and preventing the fires from spreading,” Teddy said.
The government’s response is designed as a coordinated air-and-ground operation. Aircraft can help cool burning areas and slow the advance of fire, while crews on site work to reach hotspots, contain flames, and protect residents in surrounding areas.
More Than 54,000 Personnel Operating in Affected Regions
A total of 54,394 personnel have been assigned to the wider fire response. The task force brings together members of the TNI, National Police, Ministry of Forestry, BNPB, Regional Disaster Management Agencies, Manggala Agni firefighting units, volunteers, and local residents.
West Kalimantan has the largest deployment, with 14,759 personnel. Riau and the Riau Islands have 14,382 personnel involved in operations, followed by South Sumatra with 11,026. Jambi has deployed 5,984 personnel, Central Kalimantan has 4,686, and South Kalimantan has 3,557.
The concentration of crews across Sumatra and Kalimantan reflects the scale of the challenge in regions where land and forest fires can create broad smoke impacts. Field teams must work across large landscapes, often in areas where conditions can change quickly and access is not straightforward.
Peatland Conditions Add to the Difficulty
Teddy said the size of the affected terrain and the nature of peatland fires remain major obstacles. Peat soils can hold fire beneath the surface, meaning that visible flames may not show the full extent of the burning. This makes sustained suppression work necessary even after a fire appears to have been brought under control.
“The vast area and difficult peatland conditions pose challenges in managing forest and land fires in various regions of Indonesia. However, extinguishing efforts continue relentlessly, both through ground and air operations,” Teddy said.
The operational focus is not limited to extinguishing active fires. Authorities are also trying to prevent blazes from moving into new areas and to lessen smoke exposure for people living near affected land. Haze can disrupt daily activities and place additional pressure on communities, making rapid containment a central part of the response.
Hotspot Numbers Rise Sharply
Fire monitoring data from the Ministry of Forestry’s SiPongi system showed 1,323 high-confidence hotspots across Indonesia as of 11:59 p.m. Western Indonesian Time on Saturday, September 19. The system uses satellite observations from NASA’s Terra/Aqua, SNPP, and NOAA-20 platforms.
That total was 777 higher than the 546 hotspots recorded the previous day, Friday, September 18. The increase underscores why aircraft, firefighters, security personnel, disaster-response agencies, volunteers, and local communities are being mobilized at the same time.
A hotspot detection does not by itself describe every detail of a fire on the ground, but the information helps authorities identify locations requiring attention. Satellite monitoring can support field deployment decisions by highlighting areas where heat signatures indicate a heightened risk of burning.
Protecting Communities Remains the Central Goal
Indonesia’s response places public protection alongside fire suppression. The combined operation seeks to reduce the immediate danger posed by flames while limiting the wider consequences of smoke and environmental damage.
For residents in affected regions, the scale of the deployment signals that the fire response is continuing across multiple provinces. Ground crews remain tasked with reaching active areas, while aircraft provide support over difficult terrain and locations where fires may spread rapidly.
Officials have emphasized that the campaign will continue despite the operational difficulties. With hotspot totals rising sharply in the latest monitoring data, the effectiveness of coordinated action in the air and on the ground will remain critical to containing fires and protecting communities in the weeks ahead.
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