Volunteers in Borneo are risking their lives to defuse peat fires that are releasing ancient stores of carbon and sending toxic smog across South East Asia.
The fires are burning in peatlands, where carbon accumulated over long periods is stored underground. When these areas catch fire, that carbon is released into the atmosphere, adding to the environmental impact of the blazes.
The fires are also producing a toxic haze that is spreading beyond Borneo across parts of South East Asia. The smoke has turned a local wildfire threat into a wider regional pollution problem.
Volunteers are working in dangerous conditions to tackle and defuse the fires. Their efforts highlight the risks faced by those responding directly to peat fires, which can involve burning stores of carbon beneath the surface as well as visible flames.
The fires’ combination of environmental damage and toxic smoke has drawn attention to the importance of the volunteers’ work. Peatlands can hold ancient carbon, meaning fires in these areas have consequences that extend beyond the immediate burn zone.
At this time, the available information identifies Borneo as the source of the peat fires and describes their effects as the release of ancient carbon and the spread of toxic smog across South East Asia. Further details about the scale of the fires, the number of volunteers involved and the areas affected are not provided.
