Samarinda Man Dies in Fire While Trying to Stop Blaze Reaching Homes

A 60-year-old man identified by the initials LJ has died after being burned in a forest and land fire that swept through a plantation area on Jalan Anggur, Sidodadi, Samarinda, East Kalimantan. He suffered burns to 60 per cent of his body.

“Victim was pronounced dead on Wednesday (14 October) after being treated at Abdoel Wahab Sjahranie Regional General Hospital in Samarinda, with burns covering 60 per cent of his body,” Samarinda Ulu Police Chief AKP Asriadi Jafar said in Samarinda, Antara reported on Thursday (15 October 2026).

The tragedy occurred on Tuesday (13 October), when a fire in dry vegetation engulfed the local area. The victim and nearby residents initially tried to extinguish the flames themselves to prevent the fire from spreading towards homes.

“Police officers and the Samarinda City Police forensic identification team immediately went to the scene to investigate and evacuate the victim,” Asriadi said.

The body’s evacuation was difficult, as the joint team had to cross steep, hilly terrain covered with smouldering embers. The victim was then taken to Abdoel Wahab Sjahranie Regional General Hospital for medical examination and further post-mortem procedures.

“Initial medical findings confirmed that the victim died from severe burns and exposure to extreme heat,” Asriadi said.

Samarinda Ulu Police are continuing their investigation and gathering witness statements to establish the full sequence of events.

Police have again urged residents to exercise extreme caution and not to enter fire zones without protective equipment.

“Residents are instructed to completely stop all forms of agricultural land clearing by burning during the extreme dry season,” Asriadi Jafar stressed.

Initial information indicates that the fire in Sidodadi, Samarinda, on Tuesday (13 October) affected an estimated 700 square metres. Authorities received reports of the fire and the casualty at around 1.50pm Central Indonesian Time.

“We saw the flames suddenly grow and change direction quickly because of strong gusts of wind at the site,” eyewitness Rusli said.

Rusli said the victim, who was on a hillside, had no time to escape when flames suddenly surrounded the entire area.

Thick smoke billowing into the air caused the victim to suffer severe breathing difficulties before fainting and being engulfed by the fire.

Samarinda City Government and security officials have pledged to step up patrols in fire-prone areas to prevent further deaths caused by forest and land fires.