Indonesian teenager in Superman outfit fights Borneo peatland fires as 200,000 hectares burn
Seventeen-year-old Rudiyansah received official recognition as a forest hero after volunteering in Palangkaraya, where severe drought and El Nino have dried up wells during firefighting efforts.
Volunteer firefighting in Kalimantan
Seventeen-year-old Rudiyansah has joined containment operations against peatland fires around Palangkaraya, a city located in the Indonesian portion of Borneo island. The teenager serves in a volunteer firefighting brigade founded by his father, Mulyadi, dedicating his free time after school to emergency deployments. Mulyadi recalled that his son decided to join the brigade spontaneously upon seeing his father prepare for an active mission, asking to accompany him into the field. Rudiyansah explained to the French news agency AFP that his involvement is motivated by a desire to provide direct aid to nearby communities.
I am really happy because I can help residents.
Costume preparation and viral recognition
Rudiyansah began wearing a red-and-blue Superman costume during firefighting operations against the charred backdrop of burned landscapes. To minimize the danger of the material catching fire, the teenager thoroughly soaks the suit in water before deploying to the frontline. He launders the costume every evening following each operation to ensure it remains ready for the next call. Video recordings of Rudiyansah holding a fire hose and spraying vegetation attracted millions of viewers across social media networks. Following the public attention, the Indonesian Minister of Environment and Forestry awarded the teenager the official title of forest hero. Rudiyansah, who aspires to work professionally as a forest ranger, directed a public message of support to responders across the country.
Volunteers and firefighters all across Indonesia, do not lose heart in the fight against the flames.
Water shortages and peatland hazards
Field conditions around Palangkaraya remain difficult for emergency workers due to severe resource constraints. Mulyadi stated that toxic smoke produced by the peat fires is suffocating the region more severely than at any point since the unit began operating in 2020. Extreme heat caused surrounding water wells and natural springs to dry up entirely, leaving volunteers with limited water supplies to combat active flare-ups. Peatland fires pose sustained challenges because organic soil can smolder beneath the surface for extended periods. Dense smoke from the burning terrain has spread across wide sections of Borneo, an island shared by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
- Mulyadi establishes a volunteer firefighting group in Palangkaraya.
- Rudiyansah begins volunteering alongside his father in his free time after school.
- Wildfires burn more than 200,000 hectares of land across Indonesia.
- Rudiyansah receives the forest hero title from Indonesian authorities.
Climate drivers and national response
Between January and July 2026, fires in Indonesia burned more than 200,000 hectares of land. This destroyed area is roughly three times the territorial size of the national capital, Jakarta. The crisis worsened under the influence of severe drought and the El Nino climate anomaly, which causes above-average sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. This disruption of global atmospheric circulation produces extreme dry spells in Southeast Asia while generating heavy rainfall and flooding in regions such as South America. To address the expanding fire zones, the Indonesian government deployed additional military personnel and aircraft to assist ground crews and water-bombing operations.
