World
Indonesia fights massive forest fires as El Niño makes things worse
Hot, dry weather is fueling flames across the country, leading to dozens of arrests and fears of high pollution.
A view of thick smoke and orange flames burning in an Indonesian forest.
By John Doe
Reporting from Indonesia 
Aug. 24, 2026, 5:49 p.m. - 11 hours ago
Indonesia is currently dealing with a major wildfire crisis. The weather is very hot and dry right now because of a climate event called El Niño. This weather makes it much easier for fires to start and spread quickly through the forests.
Because the situation is so serious, the government is taking action. Officials are focusing their efforts on the Kalimantan region, where the number of fire "hotspots"—areas where fires are burning—is climbing rapidly. Firefighters are using planes to drop water from the sky in several provinces to try and put the flames out.
Police are also cracking down on people who start these fires. So far, they have arrested 72 people they suspect of setting forests on fire. In many cases, people start these fires to clear land for farming, but in this dry weather, the fires quickly get out of control.
Scientists are worried that these fires could cause a huge amount of carbon dioxide to be released into the air. Carbon dioxide is a gas that warms up the planet. If the fires keep burning, it could be a major blow to the environment.
For now, the country remains on high alert as they try to stop the fires before they get any worse.
Source: The New York Times
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