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Smog in Ogan Ilir Regency. Source: Documentation by a group member.
How many more times must we breathe the same smoke before we take real action?
Extreme weather can certainly exacerbate the situation. However, recurring fires in the same areas are not just a sign that nature is being unkind; they indicate that prevention systems are not yet fully functional.
Forest Fires and the Threat to Air Quality
On October 2, 2026, forest and land fires in South Sumatra returned to the spotlight. In Ogan Ilir Regency and several surrounding areas, dozens of heat sources or hotspots were detected.
Based on data from the last seven days, the Air Pollution Standard Index (ISPU) for PM2.5 in Palembang was reported to reach 494. This figure falls into the hazardouscategory.
Meanwhile, Ogan Ilir Regency recorded an ISPU value of approximately 177.
For the people living and working in Ogan Ilir, this figure should serve as a reminder that the local air quality is no longer in a healthy state.
Smog caused by forest and land fires is not just a matter of obscured views or the nuisance of smoke. This condition directly impacts the daily lives of the community, affecting education, work, travel, and health.
Don't Just Report Hotspots
The media plays a crucial role in the issue of forest and land fires. Its duty should not stop at reporting the number of hotspots or the spread of smog.
The media also needs to delve deeper into the various issues behind these recurring fires.
Who owns or manages the burned land? What is the legal process for land-burning cases? How is peatland monitored? Where is the restoration and prevention budget being directed?
These questions are important because the media serves as a guardian of the public's collective memory.
Fire may be extinguished after the rain falls, but accountability for the fires must not disappear once the smoke clears.
Underground Peat Fires May Not Be Extinguished
The government and the public have equally important roles in preventing forest and land fires.
Response efforts are not enough when they only address visible surface fires. The government, officials, and volunteers must also monitor peatlands and areas previously affected by fires.
This is crucial because the absence of surface flames does not necessarily mean the fire has truly ended.
In peatlands, fire can persist beneath the soil surface. The smoldering embers can potentially reignite when environmental conditions are favorable.
Therefore, firefighting efforts must be followed by continuous monitoring to ensure no active hotspots remain beneath the peat layers.
Prevention Must Start Before the Fire Appears
Beyond firefighting, the government has a responsibility to strengthen education, supervision, patrols, and law enforcement against those who burn land.
The public also plays an equally important role.
The community needs to protect the environment, avoid land-clearing practices that involve burning, and report any signs of fire immediately.
Collaboration between the government and the public is key to preventing forest and land fires from the start and ensuring their impacts do not recur.
Indralaya Students Feel the Impact
For students who carry out their daily activities in the Indralaya area, forest and land fires are more than just news headlines.
The impact is felt directly.
Smog can disrupt learning activities, outdoor events, travel, and the comfort of daily life.
Therefore, the issue of forest and land fires should not only receive attention when the sky is already filled with smoke.
So far, public attention has often been focused more on managing smog after the fires have already occurred, even though the much more important task is preventing the fire from starting in the first place.
Why Do Fires Keep Recurring?
The recurring nature of these fires shows that the problem cannot be solved solely by extinguishing them after they have started.
The approach must shift from being purely reactive to implementing stronger prevention measures.
The government needs to increase supervision of fire-prone areas, strengthen patrols, provide public education, and ensure consistent law enforcement.
On the other hand, the public must participate in protecting the environment and refrain from indiscriminate land burning.
Preventing fire is far more effective than constantly dealing with smog after fires have spread.
As students active in Indralaya, we hope that the response to forest and land fires does not focus solely on putting out flames and managing smoke.
Prevention must be the primary concern so that the community does not have to face the same problems every year.
The question that must be continuously asked is not just how to extinguish today's fire, but how to ensure similar fires do not happen again tomorrow.
Because as long as prevention is not a priority, the smoke will likely keep returning, while the community remains the party that bears the consequences.
Bibliography
Utomo. “Analysis of Forest and Land Fire Hazard Levels in Ogan Ilir Regency, South Sumatra Province.” Journal of Region and Environment.
National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). 2026 Forest and Land Fire Response Information Dashboard.
Tribun Sumsel. “ISPU in Palembang Remains in the Hazardous Category.”
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