As haze from Indonesian fires was observed near Singapore, the Ranu Welum Foundation said it was operating 26 filtered-air shelters in Kalimantan, underscoring the health burden facing communities close to the blazes.
At 7 a.m. ET (11:00 UTC) on Oct. 21, Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) reported a 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) of 80 to 123 across the city-state. One-hour PM2.5 readings ranged from 34 to 92 micrograms per cubic meter. NEA said smoke haze from Kalimantan was observed in Singapore’s vicinity.
The foundation and its campaign partner said in an Oct. 18 update that 2,507 people had received clean air and medical care through the shelters during the current response. Ranu Welum’s shelter guide describes sealed rooms with air filtration in wooden homes and permanent buildings. Its fundraising campaign seeks supplies for shelters, medical care and support for volunteer firefighters.
The foundation says volunteer firefighters have limited access to protective equipment, firefighting equipment, safety training, health insurance and psychosocial support. It also says peat fires can spread beneath the ground, sometimes without visible flames.
Indonesia’s ANTARA news agency reported that Jaga Api, a Palembang art collective, posted an image for Tarian Kehancuran Budaya showing a dancer in a respirator on burned land. Jaga Api artist Pebri Yansyah asked, “Is the haze our culture now?” in an interview with The Straits Times.
NEA sent preventive notices to seven companies on Oct. 16 over fires in Sumatra. On Oct. 19, it announced plans to notify three more companies after finding indications that smoke from fires on concession land in Kalimantan might have reached Singapore. The agency did not say the companies were responsible for the haze.
For Oct. 22, NEA forecast a PSI of 101 to 160, an unhealthy range. It advised people to check live one-hour PM2.5 readings before outdoor activities.
