Wildfires in Indonesia today
So far in 2026, 4,112,468 hectares have burned in Indonesia — 15% above the 20-year average.
4,112,468 hectares so far this year, 15% above the average. Out of the 26 countries the European system tracks, Indonesia is the 4th furthest above its own average.
Burning right now “Contained” doesn’t mean out. It’s the share of the perimeter where crews stopped the spread. In most of Europe it isn’t published; “not held back yet” is an official 0%.
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Indonesia's fire crisis is closely linked to peatland drainage and conversion for palm oil plantations. When tropical peat swamps are drained and burned, they can produce devastating fires that burn underground for months, generating toxic haze that affects air quality across Southeast Asia.
The 2015 Indonesian fire season was one of the worst environmental disasters in modern history, with fires releasing more CO2 daily than the entire US economy. Sumatra and Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) are the most affected regions. El Niño years bring significantly worse fire conditions.
This tracker monitors all fire activity across Indonesia's archipelago.
Today's situation
Fifty-seven fires are still burning across Indonesia, covering some 23,240 hectares between them. The biggest by far is near Petakbehandang, at around 1,130 hectares. One hundred nineteen more broke out over the past week.
It is a hard year. Indonesia has lost 5,830,937 hectares so far, well above its usual 3,570,937 hectares — the 4th worst figure among the 26 countries Copernicus tracks.
Around Petakbehandang it is warm and humid, with a gentle breeze and the air at a dangerous level. Rain is possible over the next 48 hours.
Updated 3 Oct
Indonesia wildfire season
Indonesia's fires peak in the dry season, roughly July to October and worst in September and October, especially during El Niño years when rainfall almost vanishes. The most-affected regions are Sumatra (Riau, South Sumatra) and Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo), home to some of the world's largest tropical peatlands.
The danger is the peat itself: once drained for plantations it becomes extremely flammable and can smoulder underground for months, producing choking haze long after the flames are gone.
Notable wildfires in history
- 2023 El Niño Fires
The return of El Niño brought a fresh wave of fires and haze, with Kalimantan seeing the most repeated burning — a shift from a few enormous fires to recurrent yearly ones.
- 2019 Sumatra & Kalimantan Fires
Around 1.6 million hectares burned during another El Niño; peatland fires blanketed cities in toxic haze and pushed air quality to hazardous levels across the region.
- 2015 The Great Haze
One of the worst environmental disasters in modern history — about 2.6 million hectares burned, and peat smoke spread choking haze across Singapore, Malaysia and beyond, on many days releasing more CO₂ than the entire U.S. economy.
Main causes & risk factors
- Slash-and-burn clearing for palm oil and pulpwood plantations
- Drained tropical peatlands that become highly flammable and burn underground for months
- El Niño droughts that make the dry season far more intense
- Fires that escape agricultural land into forest and peat swamp
- The world's largest tropical peat reserves, storing vast amounts of carbon
Safety & preparedness
- During haze, check the air quality index (PSI/AQI) and limit time outdoors
- Wear an N95 mask when the air is unhealthy
- Keep windows closed and run an air purifier indoors on hazy days
- Follow guidance from Indonesia's BNPB and local authorities
- Avoid any outdoor burning during the dry season
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Frequently asked questions
When is Indonesia's wildfire season?
Mainly July to October, worst in September and October, and far more severe in El Niño years when the dry season brings almost no rain.
Why are Indonesia's fires so damaging?
Much of the burning is on drained peatland, which is extremely flammable, smoulders underground for months, and produces vast amounts of toxic haze and CO₂.
What was Indonesia's worst fire year?
2015 — about 2.6 million hectares burned and haze spread across Singapore, Malaysia and beyond, one of the worst environmental disasters in modern history.
Where do most Indonesian fires happen?
In Sumatra (Riau, South Sumatra) and Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo), which hold some of the world's largest tropical peatlands.
Where does this map's fire data come from?
Every hotspot comes from NASA's FIRMS system, using VIIRS satellites that detect active fires worldwide and update several times a day.