The Struggle of Firefighters Taming Forest Fires in Central Kalimantan, Sleeping on Bare Ground
Forest and land fire (karhutla) response personnel in West Kotawaringin Regency (Kobar), Central Kalimantan, are struggling amid a siege of smoke and heat. They rarely go home and are even willing to sleep on the ground.
As long as the flames are not fully under control, the fire site serves as both their place of duty and their place of survival. Open ground and whatever bedding is available often become the place where they lay their bodies down when exhaustion can no longer be resisted.
The commander of the West Kotawaringin BPBD Rapid Reaction Team (TRC), Sayid Abdul Badawi, said personnel must be prepared to remain on site for days at a time when fire conditions require longer handling.
“If the fire is still burning and the handling is not yet complete, we have to stay on site. We rarely go home either, because we have to make sure the fire can be brought under control. We sleep anywhere without any bedding on the ground,” Sayid said, as reported by detikKalimantan on Thursday (13/8/2026).
The terrain faced by personnel is not easy. They must push through land that is difficult for vehicles to reach, work under the blazing sun, and contend with thick smoke and hot dust that interfere with breathing.
Under certain conditions, personnel can work up to a dozen hours in a single day. After ensuring the flames have subsided, rest periods are used to recover their strength before returning to sweep areas that still have the potential to burn.
“There are no soft mattresses or air-conditioned rooms. Emergency tents, makeshift bedding, and even open ground around the site become the places where personnel close their eyes,” he said.
Limited rest is also a challenge in itself. Exposure to smoke, heat and dust, combined with lack of sleep and physical exhaustion, can cause the body’s condition to deteriorate quickly.
“Nevertheless, the task must still be carried out. Because even a small ember can grow larger again and spread when the land is dry and the wind is favourable,” he said.