Tackling Forest Fires: Japanese Helicopter Aid to Prayers for Rain
As August draws to a close, several regions remain shrouded in smoke from forest and land fires. According to information gathered from the Ministry of Forestry’s Sipongi system, a number of areas are dominated by yellow and red hotspot indicators. These areas are spread across southern Papua, Bali-East Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, southern Sumatra, and nearly all of Kalimantan.
In several locations in Kalimantan, the flames have even spread to residential areas. Most recently, a mosque in Kubu Raya, West Kalimantan, was nearly engulfed by fire originating from surrounding land.
Citing detikKalimantan, residents were concerned about the wind strength pushing the flames towards the building. The head of RT 10 RW 05, Dusun Tanjung Puri, Haidir Ali, stated that the distance between the fire and the wall of Baiturrahman Mosque at the time of the incident was only about a hand’s breadth.
“We would like to thank the Kubu Raya Police Chief and all personnel who helped save Baiturrahman Mosque. The fire was already very close to the mosque wall, just a hand’s breadth away,” said Haidir, as quoted from detikKalimantan, Saturday (29/8/2026).
Meanwhile, in West Kotawaringin, a piece of heavy equipment was completely destroyed after being struck by forest and land fire flames. The incident occurred on Saturday (29/8) in the Km 11 Raja Seberang area, Arut Selatan District, West Kotawaringin Regency.
“The burning of heavy equipment amid the forest and land fires is of particular concern, given that the threat of land fires still exists in several areas of West Kotawaringin,” said the Executive Head of the West Kotawaringin Regional Disaster Management Agency, Samuel, as quoted from detikKalimantan.
As previously reviewed in detikSore’s Thursday (27/8) edition, the massive forest and land fires in the region have even disrupted residents’ health. Based on data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health, acute respiratory infection cases have increased by up to 78%.
To reduce health risks, a number of schools in both South Kalimantan and West Kalimantan have adopted online learning policies or shifted study hours. This is intended to reduce students’ exposure to smoke.
Seeing the persistently deteriorating conditions, Japan has responded to the Indonesian Government’s request for assistance in handling forest and land fires in the Kalimantan region. Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, as quoted from NHK, has dispatched three CH-47 transport helicopters along with 600 Japan Self-Defense Forces personnel.
Meanwhile, domestically, the government through various agencies together with volunteers continues to make every effort to suppress the spread of the fires. Residents in several areas near the fire spread are also continuing to ensure that the fires do not reach residential areas.
To date, a number of regions are still awaiting weather support. This is because rain clouds rarely pass over these areas. Reading the situation which remains unfavourable, residents in Pontianak have specifically prayed for rain to fall in their area. As reported by detikKalimantan, the community performed the istisqa prayer to ask for rain amid the prolonged dry season and the siege of smoke haze from forest and land fires.