Man Dies of Suspected Heart Attack While Assisting Forest Fire Fighting in Kubu Raya

A man named Kasim, 65, died while helping to extinguish a land and forest fire on an oil palm plantation in Rasau Karya Hamlet, Rasau Jaya Umum Village, Rasau Jaya District, Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan. Kasubsi Penmas of Kubu Raya Police, Aiptu Ade, explained that the victim was found lying face down in the plantation on Tuesday. The incident is estimated to have occurred around 4 p.m. local time.

Kasim worked as a plantation guard for a landowner named Ahmad. During the fire, he was providing logistical support to the firefighting teams. After leaving the plantation to buy food and returning to rest, he resumed clearing tree branches around the area. He later complained of nausea and felt like vomiting. Ahmad offered him a drink and suggested he go home to rest, but Kasim declined.

Ahmad then went to inspect a neighbouring plantation. When he returned approximately two hours later, he found Kasim lying face down and unresponsive. He immediately sought help from a joint firefighting team nearby. Personnel from the TNI, Polri, BNPB, the fire service, Manggala Agni, and the Masyarakat Peduli Api (MPA) evacuated Kasim to Tuan Besar Syarif Idrus General Hospital in Kubu Raya, but his life could not be saved. Medical examination indicated the victim likely died from a heart attack. The joint team was battling a fire covering around four hectares that had been burning for three days, located approximately seven kilometres from Supadio International Airport.