Pangkalan Bun, Kalimantan. Forest and land fires in Tanjung Puting National Park in Central Kalimantan are estimated to have burned 54,000 hectares, prompting local tourism volunteers to urge the central government to deploy water-bombing aircraft to help contain the blazes.

The appeal comes as the estimated area burned across Kalimantan has exceeded 120,000 hectares as of October 2026, according to cumulative data from the Forestry Ministry’s SiPongi fire monitoring system and the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

The latest estimate for Tanjung Puting is substantially higher than an official figure released by the park authority in mid-September, when it reported 4,524 hectares of burned land.

The volunteers, who have spent days helping fight the fires, said ground operations had been hampered by limited personnel and equipment as the flames continued to spread across the conservation area.

The appeal was made in an open letter and social media posts, including those shared by the Green Orangutan Foundation of Kalimantan (YOHK). The volunteers also called for emergency funding and additional logistical support for firefighters and residents involved in the response.

In a video circulating on social media, a volunteer said efforts by tourism operators and other local volunteers had been insufficient to contain the fires.

“We are volunteers from the tourism sector in Tanjung Puting National Park, and we have been trying to help extinguish the fires for days,” the volunteer said. The burned area was estimated at around 54,000 hectares, the volunteer added, warning that it could continue to expand.

The BNPB said helicopter missions can be disrupted by thick smoke that severely reduces visibility, making it difficult for crews to conduct aerial firefighting safely and effectively.

As of Oct. 10, about 574,000 liters of water had been dropped over fire-affected areas in Tanjung Puting National Park and West Kotawaringin Regency. Despite the effort, fire intensity remained high, according to the supplied BNPB figures.

The fires threaten Tanjung Puting National Park, which spans West Kotawaringin and Seruyan regencies and is an important habitat for Bornean orangutans. The park is also home to proboscis monkeys, gibbons and macaques.

Beyond the threat to wildlife and forest ecosystems, the fires put nature-based tourism at risk. Visitors travel to the park to cruise along the Sekonyer River aboard traditional klotok boats and observe wildlife in its natural habitat.

Prolonged fires could damage wildlife habitats and disrupt tourism, which supports local livelihoods and attracts domestic and international visitors.

The volunteers are urging the central government to provide additional firefighting resources, including aerial water-bombing support, as well as funding and supplies for crews working on the ground.

Add as a preferred source on Google +