[REVISION HISTORY]

Fire incidents in Central Kalimantan

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-08-27 07:44 UTC → 2026-08-29 02:02 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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.

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