In the Indonesian part of Borneo, known as Kalimantan, women are risking their lives daily to combat wildfires that have been affecting the region for months. These fires, often caused by slash-and-burn agriculture, have led to severe environmental and health issues, including toxic smoke that has spread to neighboring countries like Malaysia and Singapore. Over 100 women, many of whom are housewives, are voluntarily participating in an initiative called Power of Mama, which involves patrolling daily to look for smoke and flames and intervening if necessary. The group, created in 2022, operates in a dozen villages in the Ketapang district, a rural area of Kalimantan. In this region, as in many parts of Indonesia, traditional gender roles are deeply ingrained. Women are typically responsible for child care, cooking, and housework, while firefighting is considered a man’s task. Ramilah, a 46-year-old housewife and mother in the village of Tanjungpura, told AFP that she has faced sarcastic remarks from others, but she emphasized that the group’s goal is to help the community. She noted that, like many Indonesians, she only has one name. Despite societal expectations, these women are stepping into roles traditionally reserved for men to protect their homes and environment. On a smog-filled Saturday in September, members of Power of Mama took to the roads, some on motorcycles and others crammed into the back of a pickup truck equipped with a fire pump and buckets. To protect themselves from the toxic smoke, they wear orange suits, rubber boots, and construction helmets, relying on surgical masks as their only defense. Ramilah joined the group to "protect our forest" and fight the toxic smoke that has "had a significant impact, especially for my child, who can no longer go to school." Her days are exhausting, beginning with dawn prayers, followed by household chores, tending to cows, and feeding the family’s fish. Fire patrols and firefighting operations typically take place from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, after which she returns home to work until nightfall. The Power of Mama initiative is supported by the Indonesian Wildlife Rehabilitation Foundation YIARI and was inspired by the devastating fires of 2019, which ravaged Kalimantan. Forest fires in Indonesia are largely attributed to slash-and-burn practices, which destroy forest cover and dry out peatlands. According to the Nusantara Atlas fire monitoring tool, nearly 900,000 hectares of land have burned across the archipelago since the beginning of the year, though official figures report only 202,000 hectares destroyed between January and July. The toxic smoke has led to school closures, respiratory infections, and threats to wildlife such as great apes and elephants. Mita Anggraeni, coordinator of Power of Mama, noted that sexism remains a challenge, as some people still believe women are not suited for firefighting. However, when men are away working, women often find themselves on the front lines. Melyanti, a 25-year-old nursing aide and part-time firefighter, confirmed that some in the community are not supportive of their fire prevention efforts. However, the group is determined to help whenever possible. When a vocal opponent's land caught fire, the group did not intervene, as they had been insulted for two months. Mutia Mulansari, a 30-year-old housewife, acknowledged that some people have mocked the women, saying they were "just going back and forth on motorcycles, again and again," but she added that attitudes are beginning to shift as the volunteers "have proven that we are capable."