PALANGKA RAYA, thekabarnews.com—Indonesian actor Zaskia Adya Mecca has drawn attention to the financial and safety pressures facing community volunteers as forest and land fires (karhutla) continue across parts of Kalimantan.

Zaskia documented her four-day visit through South and Central Kalimantan on Instagram. She showed residents working near fire zones and described the emotional toll of witnessing communities live with smoke for months.

At an independent volunteer post near Syamsudin Noor Airport in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, she learned that residents were using personal funds to buy fuel for water pumps. Afterward, she travelled to Palangka Raya, where thick haze remained visible.

“There are residents here who work as independent volunteers and help extinguish the fires every day,” Zaskia said. “To buy petrol and run the pumps, they collect money from their pockets—Rp10,000, sometimes Rp15,000 or Rp20,000.”

Zaskia said the volunteers were not paid and had only limited protective gear. Many were not economically secure in themselves, but their contributions paid for operating expenses on a daily basis.

“What moved me was that they are independent volunteers and receive no pay,” she said.

“They even have to pool money for the fuel they need to fight the fires, despite living with limited means themselves.”

Her testimony describes conditions at the posts she visited. It does not constitute a comprehensive assessment of equipment or government support throughout either province. Nevertheless, it highlights the role that residents often assume when fires threaten settlements before larger teams can reach the area.

Central Kalimantan remained under a provincial forest and land fire emergency-alert status through Oct. 31, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

Palangka Raya was among the cities and regencies covered by local response arrangements. South Kalimantan also maintained an emergency-alert status covering fires and drought.

Zaskia’s visit followed a similar field initiative by singer and environmental advocate Sherina Munaf. Sherina arrived in Palangka Raya on Aug. 31 and later joined University of Palangka Raya students in suppressing fires near the campus.

Working with the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, Sherina delivered supplies and visited areas where fires threatened wildlife habitat. She also raised donations for students and other responders working in the field.

“For now, I am focusing on collecting donations to help the extraordinary people working in the field,” Sherina said during her visit. Prokalteng

Sherina said the crisis extended beyond smoke exposure because repeated fires could damage peatlands and threaten Kalimantan’s wildlife.

“Kalimantan’s biodiversity is extraordinary. It is a lung for all of us,” she said.

The involvement of public figures can expand awareness and accelerate donations, but volunteer action cannot replace a sustained institutional response.

Local and national authorities, as well as companies responsible for concession areas, must ensure that trained responders receive protective equipment, fuel and operational support.

For communities living near fire-prone peatlands, that assistance can determine whether volunteers confront advancing flames with proper protection. Otherwise, they may continue relying on personal contributions and improvised equipment.