JAKARTA – Indonesia expects to extinguish its forest and land fires (Karhutla) within one month, Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat said on Tuesday (13/10/2026), as the government weighs offers of firefighting assistance from neighbouring countries before deciding whether to accept them.
“Based on my conversation with BNPB, (the fires will be extinguished) in the next few weeks,” he said, referring to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency.
“The intensity is already starting to decrease. It should (be extinguished) within a month,” Jumhur said at the Prasasti Indonesia Policy Forum 2026 in Jakarta on Oct 13, as quoted by state news agency Antara.
He acknowledged, however, that firefighting efforts still faced several hurdles including poor visibility, which was hampering the use of water-bombing helicopters.
When asked about offers of firefighting assistance from other countries, Jumhur said the Indonesian government was “curating” the proposals before deciding whether to accept them.
“We must first see what kind of assistance it is, whether it is significant or not. Instead of making mistakes later, it’s better for us to curate it first, to make sure that it fits.”
Jumhur’s comments echoed those of Coordinating Political and Security Affairs Minister Dudung Abdurachman, who said after a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto on 12 October that foreign assistance offers had yet to be discussed.
Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu had previously stated on 10 October that she had been in touch with Jumhur and had offered her support.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Oct 11 that he had spoken to Prabowo in September and offered Malaysia’s help, while Malaysia’s National Disaster Management Agency had also written to its Indonesian counterpart, but had yet to receive a reply.
“We assume, in good faith, that perhaps they do not need our assistance,” Zahid said at the time, as quoted by The Star.
Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs spokesman Honi Havana said on Oct 14 that communication with Malaysia was ongoing and that the government had not rejected the assistance outright.
“We have to discuss the operational requirements, how the personnel deployment and logistical support will work and so on,” Antara quoted Honi as saying.
Calls to accept foreign assistance have also come from within Indonesia, including from Regional Representative Council speaker Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin.
“Forest and land fires occurring in several regions constitute an ecological disaster that has evolved into a public health issue with widespread regional impact,” Sultan said in a press statement on 13 October. “Therefore, handling it requires a precise and rapid technological approach.”
He expressed appreciation for the government’s efforts to fight the forest fires, but said it should welcome assistance from friendly nations, particularly those within ASEAN, “should the need arise”.
He added that the government could accept foreign help without needing to declare a national emergency.
Indonesia had previously accepted three CH-47 Chinook helicopters along with personnel and support equipment from Japan, as well as fire suppressant powder from Brazil.
The Japanese mission ended on 29 September, with the Japanese Defence Ministry issuing a statement saying that the Indonesian government had expressed its appreciation for Japan’s aid and its readiness to manage the forest and land fires independently. (*)
