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Indonesia's Tarakan Agency Suspects Active Coal Deposits Fueling Forest Fires
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Environment & Climate

Indonesia's Tarakan Agency Suspects Active Coal Deposits Fueling Forest Fires

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Tarakan's Environmental Agency suspects active coal deposits, not just land burning, are triggering forest fires and haze.
  • Natural heat from coal seams, combined with dry conditions and wind, can cause spontaneous combustion.
  • The agency advises against using water for coal fires, recommending foam or soil to cut off air supply.

Forest fires and the resulting haze in Tarakan, Indonesia, may be exacerbated by more than just human-caused land burning. The Tarakan Environmental Agency (DLH) suggests that active coal deposits beneath the surface are also a significant trigger.

We know that one of the triggers for land fires is coal. In the Tarakan Timur area, there are coal contents in the bushes that can cause fires. There's no need for land burning; sometimes it can ignite on its own.

— Chaizir ZainHead of Pollution Control at DLH Tarakan, explaining the potential for spontaneous combustion from coal deposits.

Chaizir Zain, head of pollution control at DLH Tarakan, explained that these coal seams, particularly in the Tarakan Timur area, can ignite spontaneously. "We know that one of the triggers for land fires is coal. In the Tarakan Timur area, there are coal contents in the bushes that can cause fires. There's no need for land burning; sometimes it can ignite on its own," he said.

This phenomenon occurs due to extreme weather conditions, specifically minimal rainfall and high temperatures. The natural heat from the coal, when interacting with wind and dry vegetation, can lead to smoke and flames. Even though Tarakan's coal quality is relatively low, its caloric content is sufficient to ignite surrounding plant life.

If it's coal, it shouldn't be doused with water when it's burning, because it will release more smoke and retain heat. Water contains H2O, one of its elements is oxygen, which is a component of the fire triangle.

— Chaizir ZainExplaining the recommended firefighting methods for coal fires.

For effective firefighting, DLH recommends methods that cut off the air supply, such as using specialized foam chemicals or directly covering the burning coal with soil. "If it's coal, it shouldn't be doused with water when it's burning, because it will release more smoke and retain heat. Water contains H2O, one of its elements is oxygen, which is a component of the fire triangle," Chaizir noted. He urged the public not to immediately assume all fires are due to intentional land clearing, acknowledging the role of natural coal deposits.

The methods can involve using foam chemicals or covering with soil, so the coal does not come into direct contact with air or water.

— Chaizir ZainFurther detailing the appropriate techniques for extinguishing coal-induced fires.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNN Indonesia in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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