Forest and Land Fires Emergency Response in Katingan, Central Kalimantan

THE PROBLEM

Since August 2026, Indonesia is experiencing some of its worst forest fires in more than a decade. The forest and land fires across Kalimantan and Sumatra islands have blanketed more than seven provinces in thick haze, with Central Kalimantan among the worst affected. The Central Kalimantan Provincial Government has had a forest and land fire emergency alert in place since 26 May 2026. The Katingan District Government extended its emergency response status for another 14 days on 14 October 2026. Reported impacts include:

• An Air Quality Index (ISPU) of 868 in Katingan and 4,055 in Palangka Raya on 13 October 2026, far above the “hazardous” threshold of 300.
• 283,270 cases of acute respiratory infection (ISPA) in fire-affected areas between August and 13 October 2026, including 63,711 children under five (Indonesia’s Ministry of Health 2026).

Health facilities and shelters need clean indoor air for patients and vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and pregnant women. Commercial air purifiers, however, are expensive and hard to obtain in large numbers in Central Kalimantan. 

THE SOLUTION

Kopernik is providing 50 units of K-Purifier to public facilities in Katingan, such as clinics, hospitals and smoke-safe shelters, so they can filter indoor air more effectively. Yayasan Puter Indonesia supports distribution on the ground and is assessing which facilities are most affected. 

THE EXPECTED IMPACT

This response is expected to provide cleaner indoor air at 50 public facilities in Katingan, reaching more than 250 residents and vulnerable people sheltering from the haze.