Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Indonesia recorded a sharp decline in high-confidence forest and land fire hotspots, but authorities are maintaining intensive operations as smoke and fire risks persist across parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan.
Data from the Ministry of Forestry’s SiPongi monitoring system, based on NASA Terra/Aqua, SNPP and NOAA-20 satellite observations, recorded 344 high-confidence hotspots nationwide as of 9:05 p.m. local time on September 23, 2026. The figure fell by 588 from 932 hotspots recorded a day earlier.
Across six priority provinces, the number of high-confidence hotspots dropped from 778 to 206 within one day. Central Kalimantan recorded the largest decline, although it remained the province with the highest number of hotspots among the priority areas.
Central Kalimantan recorded 156 hotspots, down from 643; West Kalimantan had 33, down from 50; South Kalimantan had 11, down from 68; South Sumatra had four, down from 17; Jambi recorded two after having none previously; while Riau remained at zero.
The Ministry of Forestry stressed that satellite-detected hotspots indicate surface temperature anomalies and should not be directly interpreted as individual fires or measurements of burned areas. A single fire can generate several hotspot detections, making ground verification and field monitoring essential.
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni and National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Head Lt. Gen. Suharyanto continued monitoring fire-control operations in South Kalimantan on September 23 after overseeing operations in Central Kalimantan.
The two officials inspected firefighting activities in peatland areas around Sambang Lihum Mental Hospital in Banjar District and joined an evaluation with the local government, military, police, regional disaster management agency and other relevant agencies.
The evaluation focused on strengthening ground operations, aligning field data and deploying personnel and resources to locations requiring further intervention. The Banjar district government has also prepared additional personnel for fire-prone areas.
Ground operations remain particularly important in peatlands, where embers can persist beneath the surface even after visible flames have disappeared. Firefighters therefore continue wetting and cooling affected areas to prevent fires from reigniting.
The government has deployed 61 aircraft to support forest and land fire control. Of these, 17 are assigned to patrols and weather modification operations, while 44 are being used for water bombing.
The deployment of aircraft takes into account fire development, cloud potential, wind direction, smoke conditions, visibility and flight safety.
On the ground, Manggala Agni personnel from the Ministry of Forestry are working with BNPB, the military, police, regional disaster agencies, local governments, communities, volunteers, businesses and other stakeholders. Their activities include patrols, ground verification, direct firefighting, firebreak operations, wetting, mopping up and cooling.
Despite the decline in hotspots, air quality remains a concern in several parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan. PM2.5 monitoring shows that most areas remain within good to moderate categories, while some locations continue to experience unhealthy and very unhealthy conditions, with hazardous levels reported in certain areas.
Aviation visibility monitoring by the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) early on September 24 showed smoke affecting several priority areas. Visibility was around 1.5 kilometers in Palangka Raya and Pontianak, about 3 kilometers in Banjarmasin, 5 kilometers in Jambi and Palembang, and approximately 6 kilometers in Pekanbaru, where light rain was also reported.
The Ministry of Forestry warned that a reduction in hotspot numbers does not necessarily mean that all fires have been extinguished or that air quality has immediately recovered. Existing smoke can remain suspended and move with atmospheric conditions, while peatland fires can continue burning below the surface.
Authorities urged residents in affected areas to monitor air quality information and follow instructions from local governments. When air quality deteriorates, people are advised to reduce outdoor activities and wear masks when going outside.
Children, pregnant women, older people and individuals with respiratory problems or chronic illnesses are advised to take particular precautions.
The government also reminded communities and businesses not to clear or open land by burning and to prevent activities that could trigger fires. Residents are encouraged to report smoke, fire, land-burning activities or wildlife affected by fires so authorities can respond as early as possible. (*)
