Key Facts

• The wildfires are mostly burning in peatlands, a type of soil made from decomposed plant material.
• Peat fires are hard to put out because peat is dry and full of carbon, which helps the fire spread underground.
• The smoke from these fires causes serious air pollution and health problems for people living in the region.
• The haze has spread beyond Indonesia to countries such as Singapore and Malaysia.
• This year’s wildfire season in Indonesia is the worst in a decade.
• Peatlands store large amounts of carbon, so fires there release a lot of greenhouse gases.
• Containing peat fires is challenging because they can keep burning underground even when surface fires are extinguished.
• The Indonesian government and environmental groups are trying to manage and reduce these fires.