NASA Earth Observatory reported on September 3, 2026, that drought conditions had left peatland fires smoldering on the surface and underground in Indonesia. The Aqua satellite's MODIS sensor captured imagery on September 1, 2026, and fire detections clustered mainly on the southern side of Borneo. The report noted Indonesia holds about 36 percent of the world's tropical peatlands and that El Niño conditions, assessed by NOAA as present and strengthening in August, typically cut rainfall there.

Robert Field, a Columbia University researcher, said Indonesia was only about three weeks into its fire season but activity was tracking sharply upward, similar to 2015. As of September 2, 2026, the year's fires had released roughly 10 percent as much as the 2015 fires, which emitted 1.75 billion tons of greenhouse gas equivalents. Indonesia's SiPongi platform tallied 946 hotspots on August 31, 2026.

The report said officials warned of hazardous smoke exposure, some schools shifted to remote learning, nine national parks closed and flights were delayed. Field said the fires would keep burning until rains arrive in October or November.