Indonesia Wildfires Kill Firefighters as Haze Spreads

Four people died and two others suffered serious burns while working to contain a wildfire in Semeru National Park in East Java, Indonesian officials said. The victims were part of a 12-person crew that became trapped by dense smoke and advancing flames in a remote mountainous area on Thursday. They called colleagues for help at about 1:30pm. Rescuers found three people dead and three with severe burns; one of the injured later died in hospital. Two volunteers remain hospitalised, while six crew members escaped unharmed. Authorities completed the evacuation and opened an investigation into the deaths, including whether negligence or criminal conduct played a role. The blaze follows a large fire in August that burned nearly nine square kilometres of vegetation in the park, including protected edelweiss flowers. The article places the deaths within a wider wildfire emergency across Indonesia. Fires, mainly on Borneo and Sumatra, began in July and could continue through November. A severe El Niño pattern has intensified the dry season, while land clearance by fire and water shortages have further complicated firefighting. Indonesia recorded 799 hotspots on Thursday evening, more than twice the previous day's count, with most in six fire-prone provinces. The fires also threaten wildlife and spread haze across the region. In West Kalimantan, the YIARI rehabilitation centre has rescued 49 orangutans since August and is caring for 90 animals. Its co-founder warned that habitat loss and food shortages could affect orangutans in the coming months. Smoke has contributed to poor air quality in neighbouring countries, including the Philippines and Malaysia, where hundreds of schools were ordered to close. Malaysia said it would pursue regional cooperation rather than seek compensation from Indonesia; Singapore said it was investigating companies allegedly connected to fires and would take legal action where appropriate. Estimates of burned land vary: Indonesia's Forestry Ministry recorded more than 2,020 square kilometres from January to July, while satellite monitoring by Nusantara Atlas estimated nearly 8,960 square kilometres by the end of August.

Singapore is experiencing a prolonged haze crisis as smoke from wildfires in Indonesia’s Kalimantan region drifts across the region. Air quality in Singapore has remained at unhealthy levels, after first reaching that threshold on September 4—the first such episode in nearly three years. The pollution has reduced visibility, disrupted everyday activities, and raised concerns about health and economic impacts. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said Singapore is investigating companies that may be responsible for forest and peatland fires. Where warranted, the government may pursue legal action under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act and is also considering joint action with other countries. Singapore has been in contact with Indonesian officials and has offered assistance. The effects are already visible across transport, tourism, and local businesses. Low visibility has prompted 16 flight diversions at Seletar Airport. Some outdoor dining businesses, including hawker centers, have reported reduced business, while Marina Bay Sands has temporarily suspended certain outdoor experiences and is supplying guests with masks and air purifiers. The haze has also coincided with Singapore International Cyber Week, which has attracted a record turnout of more than 15,000 visitors from over 100 countries. Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo acknowledged that the pollution was an unwelcome backdrop for international guests. Authorities had prepared in advance, including distributing masks to residents most in need, while companies such as Grab have issued advisories and distributed masks to platform workers. The pollution extends beyond Singapore into Malaysia. Malaysian Second Finance Minister Amir Hamzah Azizan called for a coordinated Southeast Asian response and said Malaysia had offered water bombers and other resources. He described the problem as requiring an ASEAN solution.

At least four firefighters have died and two others were severely burned while battling wildfires in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java, Indonesia. According to the Forestry Ministry, the team was trapped by thick smoke and rapidly spreading flames. The 12-person group included national park staff, community fire brigade members, and local volunteers. The ministry stressed that extinguishing forest and land fires is a high-risk operation. The deaths occurred amid Indonesia’s months-long wildfire and toxic-smoke crisis, described in the article as the country’s worst wildfires in a decade. Satellite-detected hotspots rose sharply: 799 were recorded by Thursday evening, compared with 372 the previous day. Hotspots indicate unusually high temperatures, though they do not necessarily correspond to individual fires. El Niño has prolonged the dry season and contributed to worsening fires this year. The blazes and smoke have forced school closures and increased respiratory complaints. The haze is also affecting neighboring countries. Malaysia closed hundreds of schools on Friday as air quality deteriorated. Singapore ranked as the world’s most polluted major city in IQAir’s live ranking, followed by Kuala Lumpur in second place and Jakarta in sixth. Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan rejected calls to seek compensation from Indonesia, favoring diplomatic engagement and regional cooperation, while saying Malaysia was coordinating assistance. Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said authorities were investigating companies allegedly connected to fires in Indonesia. Singapore may act under its 2014 Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, which can target companies whose overseas activities contribute to unhealthy air pollution in Singapore. However, legal experts cautioned that bringing cases under the law would be challenging.