# Fire incidents in Central Kalimantan > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/fire-incidents-in-central-kalimantan > Updated: 2026-08-27T05:02:48.000Z. Sources: 24. Developments: 3. In late July 2026, Central Kalimantan authorities declared a disaster emergency following forest and peatland fires that burned over 3,000 hectares. The fires, linked to severe drought and El Niño, prompted a coordinated response involving aerial water-bombing helicopters and local task forces to contain hotspots in districts such as Kotawaringin Timur and Pulang Pisau. On August 12, 2026, a separate fire incident occurred at the Governor’s office complex in Palangka Raya. The blaze heavily damaged the Bureau of People's Welfare (Kesra) building, destroying nearly all rooms and staff areas. While the cause remains under investigation by police, Governor Agustiar Sabran indicated the bureau would be temporarily relocated. By late August, as the dry season peaked, the Central Kalimantan Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) urged the provincial government to ensure approximately Rp70 billion in Unforeseen Expenditure (BTT) funds is ready for immediate disbursement to combat forest and land fires. Legislator Asdy Narang emphasized that financial readiness is critical to prevent complex disbursement procedures from hindering field teams. Meanwhile, smoke from existing fires has begun impacting the education sector, forcing several schools to reduce teaching hours to protect student health. By August 27, 2026, forest and land fires have escalated significantly across Kalimantan and Sumatra. The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) reports that fire activity this dry season is stronger than in recent years. In Kalimantan, the Ministry of Forestry has identified thousands of hotspots, with smoke spreading across borders to Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore. The haze has affected over 4.2 million people across seven provinces, prompting medical warnings regarding fine particulate matter (PM2.5) risks. President Prabowo Subianto has signaled that the state will not compromise with corporations found responsible, stating that business licenses may be revoked if companies are implicated in land burning. ## Claims - Polda Riau has detained 40 suspects in 37 cases related to forest and land fires. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Riau is a priority province due to its peatland geography, making fire suppression difficult. (single source) - 2,376 hectares of land in Southeast Sulawesi burned between January and July 2026. (single source) - Central Kalimantan recorded 19,992 hotspots and 1,639 forest fires between January 1 and August 22, 2026. (single source) - Air quality in Central Kalimantan reached a hazardous USIQ of 564 on August 28, 2026. (single source) - Firefighters in East Kotawaringin require more durable equipment, such as fire hoses, to combat high heat. (single source) - PM2.5 particles in smoke can penetrate deep into the lungs, posing high risks to children. (single source) - PT Pelindo distributed 70 water tankers and masks to communities in East Kotawaringin. (single source) - The Ministry of Forestry reported 717 high-confidence hotspots and 12,696 medium-confidence hotspots in Kalimantan. (single source) - CAMS reported that fire activity in Indonesia this dry season is stronger than in recent years. (single source) - Polda Kalteng received 48 additional personnel from the Polri Education and Training Institute to assist in fire prevention. (single source) - The Ministry of Agriculture deployed 200 water pumps to four Kalimantan provinces to support fire suppression. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-27: Indonesia forest fires escalate across Kalimantan and Sumatra Indonesia faces intensifying forest fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra, causing widespread haze that affects 4.2 million people and spreads to neighboring countries. Authorities are deploying resources and ramping 24 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/central-kalimantan-officials-urge-readiness-of-rp70-billion-for-forest-fire-response ### 2026-08-11: Central Kalimantan Governor's office bureau building destroyed by fire A large fire destroyed much of the Bureau of People's Welfare building in the Central Kalimantan Governor's office complex in Palangka Raya early Wednesday morning. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/central-kalimantan-governors-office-bureau-building-destroyed-by-fire ### 2026-07-29: Central Kalimantan declares emergency as fires burn 3,000+ hectares Central Kalimantan declares emergency as over 3,000 ha burn, with BNPB coordination, a 28‑day district emergency and governor‑led aerial firefighting. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/central-kalimantan-authorities-restore-civil-registration-services-and-tackle-fuel-queue-issues --- Cite as: Fire incidents in Central Kalimantan. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/fire-incidents-in-central-kalimantan