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JAKARTA \u2013 Indonesian officials welcomed offers of assistance from Singapore<\/span><\/a> and Malaysia to tackle forest and land fires that have sent haze blanketing the region, with one disaster management official saying firefighters on the ground could be more useful than helicopters.<\/p>\n National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) acting spokesman Berton Panjaitan told The Straits Times on Oct 10 that personnel on the ground would be preferable to aircraft if neighbouring countries were to provide assistance.<\/p>\n \u201cThe problem is that even if aircraft are provided, for example helicopters, visibility is very low,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, if you ask us, I think it would be better to have personnel on the ground rather than helicopters.\u201d<\/p>\n He noted that this was his personal assessment of what would be most useful in fighting the fires, rather than an official request for international assistance. BNPB was not involved in negotiating foreign assistance, which was handled by other government ministries, he added.<\/p>\n Forestry Ministry spokesman Ristianto Pribadi told ST on Oct 10: \u201cThe Ministry of Forestry appreciates the concern and readiness of Malaysia and Singapore to assist in tackling forest and land fires. We regard their willingness to help as a demonstration of friendship and the spirit of regional cooperation to protect communities from the impact of forest and land fires and haze.\u201d<\/p>\n Neither official could confirm whether Indonesia had formally accepted Singapore\u2019s offer of assistance.<\/p>\n Ristianto said that cooperation involving other countries was coordinated through Indonesia\u2019s Foreign Ministry.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Ministry of Forestry stands ready to support technical coordination within its authority and according to the needs of firefighting operations on the ground,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Indonesia\u2019s Deputy Forestry Minister Rohmat Marzuki said on Oct 9 that President Prabowo Subianto had communicated with leaders of friendly countries about strengthening cooperation to tackle the fires.<\/p>\n \u201cThe President has communicated with the leaders of friendly countries, particularly Malaysia and Singapore, to jointly strengthen cooperation in tackling forest and land fires,\u201d he told reporters at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, without elaborating.<\/p>\n Indonesia\u00a0is experiencing an unusually severe fire season, with\u00a0prolonged heat and dryness exacerbated by a very strong El Nino<\/span><\/a>. The fires have burned large areas of Sumatra and Kalimantan, while smoke and haze have affected neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.<\/p>\n Singapore and Malaysia have offered to help Indonesia fight the fires, which have worsened air quality in parts of both countries.<\/p>\n Singapore\u2019s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said on Oct 10 that she had been in touch with her Indonesian counterpart, Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat, to offer support and express appreciation for his efforts to contain the fires.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are aware that efforts are going on. We stand ready to assist where we can,\u201d she told reporters at Our Tampines Hub.<\/p>\n Singapore\u2019s 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reached 192 in central Singapore at 6pm on Oct 9<\/span><\/a>, its highest reading so far in 2026 and close to the very unhealthy range, which begins at 201.<\/p>\nNeighbours offer help as haze raises F1 concerns<\/h2>\n