After the haze, before the next fire

With El Nino conditions potentially prolonging dry weather, fires and haze may linger longer than we wish.

Recent showers have brought relief to some areas, yet reports from Indonesia indicate that peat fires can continue smouldering underground even after rain. The skies may clear before the danger truly passes.

Rather than wait for the monsoon, I wish to jump the gun and raise another question for public discernment.

What happens after the fires are extinguished, the headlines fade and emergency teams return home?

Having reflected on how haze can cloud our judgement, I believe we must consider what follows. Will we remember the lessons, or will our resolve evaporate as quickly as the puddles?

The real test of prevention begins before the skies clear.

Peatlands deserve particular attention. When excessively drained and exposed to prolonged drought, their accumulated organic matter becomes vulnerable to ignition.

Unlike surface vegetation fires, peat fires can smoulder beneath the ground, frustrating detection and firefighting efforts.

Rain helps, but it does not necessarily reach every burning layer.

The human cost should not be lost amid arguments over causes and responsibility. Recent reports of respiratory illnesses and emergency oxygen assistance remind us that haze affects children, older people, workers and families, often far from the flames.

It is more than a passing inconvenience or an unfavourable air-quality reading.

There is an irony in fighting peat fires. During drought, firefighters may struggle to find sufficient water.

Yet when the rains return, drainage canals can carry precious water away, leaving peat vulnerable to the next dry spell.

We struggle to bring water in during a crisis, then allow it to escape afterwards.

The answer includes restoring degraded peatlands, retaining water where appropriate and maintaining functioning water-control structures.

The distinction lies between responsibly managed agricultural peatlands, where appropriate water-table management, site-specific compaction and regular monitoring help reduce fire risks, and neglected or excessively drained peatlands vulnerable to drying and ignition.

Even well-managed peatlands remain vulnerable when moisture levels fall dangerously low.

These lessons are not new. During the severe haze of 2015, Sarawak's experience drew attention to peat science, water management and cooperation among researchers, plantation operators and smallholders.

More than a decade later, the point remains relevant: good management is a routine, not a rescue operation.

Prevention also requires people, not merely policies. Smallholders and rural communities may be closest to vulnerable landscapes but lack the equipment, financing or technical support needed to adopt safer practices.

Prohibitions matter, but enforcement should be accompanied by practical alternatives and fair assistance.

Plantation companies, local authorities and neighbouring communities can share water sources, access routes, firefighting equipment and early warnings.

Prevention is generally more cost-effective than correcting failures. A neglected pump or damaged water-control structure can turn a manageable problem into a costly crisis, underscoring the importance of regular maintenance and timely intervention.

Fire prevention is no different.

Recent Indonesia-Singapore discussions about closer haze cooperation, including information sharing and evidence-based enforcement, are encouraging.

Accountability matters, but identifying offenders after a fire cannot substitute for reducing risks before ignition.

Cooperation must extend beyond national borders and beyond the emergency itself.

One practical proposal is an annual pre-drought preparedness audit in fire-prone landscapes.

Check groundwater levels, canal controls, pumps, access routes, equipment and community response plans.

Prioritise places with recurring fires and nearby settlements. Publish meaningful findings and fix deficiencies, rather than merely adding another form to the filing cabinet.

Governments should base enforcement on verified evidence and consistent application of the law, while businesses should demonstrate compliance through transparent monitoring and accountable land management.

Communities, particularly smallholders, need practical assistance to adopt effective preventive measures.

Lessons from each fire season should be systematically documented, independently reviewed and translated into measurable improvements, ensuring that preparedness is guided by evidence rather than public pressure or changing attention.

Firefighters and volunteers deserve our gratitude. Better preparation would be a greater tribute to their efforts.

Smoke recognises neither property boundaries nor national borders. Neither should our commitment to prevention. When the rains return, gratitude must not become complacency.

We cannot afford to follow the smoke while ignoring the conditions that feed the flames.

Perhaps the greatest challenge is not putting out fires, but keeping our collective resolve alive afterwards.

Rain may extinguish the fires. Only sustained commitment can prevent their return.

And when the skies turn blue again, let our memories remain clear.