Forest Fire Smoke Blankets Medan, Several Organizations Hand Out 500 Masks
Four organizations in Medan gave out 500 masks to residents and people passing by the Fly Over on Jamin Ginting, Sunday (18/10/2026), in response to the haze caused by forest and land fires in North Sumatra. The action was organized by GRAS, Genries North Sumatra, Rimbapala Kehutanan USU, and Relindo North Sumatra to lessen the smoke’s health impact on locals.
Based on SiPongi data from the Ministry of Forestry, on October 16, 2026, 9,324 hotspots were detected across 35 provinces in Indonesia. BMKG also noted that smoke had covered all of North Sumatra by October 14, 2026, with air quality in Medan ranging from moderate to unhealthy-the Pinang Baris Road area recorded an ISPU of 136 (unhealthy).
Nurhabli Ridwan, GRAS Founder, said this action is a show of care for public health and a reminder that forest fires need everyone’s attention. M. Nur Salim from Genries stressed how prevention matters just as much as protecting yourself, while Gideon Moris Purba from Rimbapala USU called on young people to take an active role in keeping forests healthy.
The public is urged to wear N95/KN95 masks, cut down on outdoor activities, keep an eye on air quality, and get medical help right away if breathing trouble comes up. Cross-party teamwork is still needed for emergency response, prevention, and law enforcement to stop these fires.
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