World · Singapore Bureau
Indonesia deploys fire-suppressing gel to combat severe peat fire crisis
Facing a worsening haze emergency fuelled by peat fires, Indonesian authorities are testing a new fire-suppressing gel as part of efforts to contain the environmental disaster. The initiative represents a fresh approach to a recurring seasonal crisis that affects air quality across the region.
LSN Singapore ·
Indonesia is rolling out trials of a specialized fire-suppressing gel in its battle against intensifying peat fires that have blanketed parts of Southeast Asia in hazardous smoke. The gel-based solution is designed to penetrate deep into peat layers, where fires burn underground and prove difficult to extinguish using conventional water-based methods.
Peat fires represent a particular challenge for firefighting efforts as they smoulder beneath the surface, consuming vast tracts of land while producing dense smoke that travels across borders. The haze crisis has repeatedly disrupted daily life in Singapore, Malaysia, and other neighbouring countries, triggering health warnings and economic disruptions.
The Indonesian government has been under mounting pressure to address the recurring fire crisis, which typically worsens during the dry season. Officials have indicated the gel will be tested in affected regions to assess its effectiveness in suppressing fires at their source before they can spread further.
Details on the gel's composition, deployment timeline, and preliminary results remain limited. Experts suggest that while innovative suppression methods offer promise, addressing the underlying issue requires sustained commitment to land management, prevention strategies, and enforcement of regulations against illegal land clearing.