Indonesia Wildfires: Residents Battle Flames to Save Their Homes

Residents in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, fought desperately to save their homes as wildfires swept through the drought-hit region on Friday, October 23. Locals used branches and hoses to beat back flames, while firefighters worked through the night to bring the blaze under control. Officials say scarce water supplies make peatland fires difficult to extinguish. Meanwhile, haze from Indonesia’s fires worsened air quality in neighbouring Singapore, with AQI reaching 169, an unhealthy level, according to IQAir. Indonesia is battling its most intense forest and land fires in 11 years amid severe El Niño-driven dryness.