The Fire in Indonesia
One important reason why the 1997-98 fires are so serious is because many of them are peat fires. Peat is vegetable matter, in this case tree parts, which has partially decomposed in the forest dampness and begun to turn to carbon. When peat catches fire it can burn for months, with devastating effects.
Peat Fires
Typically rain forest floors do not accumulate leaf litter, so fires tend to move through quickly at relatively low temperatures. However in Indonesia many forests grow on peat deposits which accumulated in lowland areas for some 7,000 years and can reach depths of up to twenty feet. During the monsoon season peat prevents flooding by absorbing the heavy rainfall like a sponge. During dry weather, peat slowly releases the moisture back into the air. When forest is cleared, the exposed peat quickly dries out so it catches fire easily. Once this happens, the fire smolders deep in the earth--indefinitely. It is nearly impossible to extinguish, even by heavy rain. Some peat fires have been burning underground since 1983, the last time El Niño hit.
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