In order to be able to control fires, we need to understand how fires behave theoretically. “Fire triangle” is a model for conveying the components of fires. Three elements are required for a fire to burn; Activation energy (Heat source), Oxidizer (Oxygen), and Combustible (Fuel). The fire will spread in the direction of the most abundant supply of the three elements. If one of the three elements is removed, the fire will be put out.
Heat is the first element in the fire triangle and also perhaps the most essential of fire elements. It is also one of the first things firefighters do to extinguish fires by applying cooling elements; usually water, or a chemical fire retardant. In large fires, one of the methods is aerial firefighting; a plane drops a chemical retardant into the burning area. However, if the burning areas are remoted, it will be tough to find or even transport water. Therefore, the strategies are to use few amounts of water or no water at all which is dangerous for firefighters.
The second element of the fire triangle is oxidizer or oxygen. One of the recommendations for putting out a smaller fire is to smother it with a non-flammable blanket, sand, or dirt. Nevertheless, it is complicated to decrease the amount of oxygen in large fires. To reduce the amount of oxygen is not usually an option because there is no practical way to make that happen in an extended area.
The last element in the fire triangle is Combustible or Fuels which are flammable such as woods. The moisture content determines how easily it will burn. So the ways to remove the fuel from the fire triangle might either increase the moisture content in the fuels or separating the fuels from the burned area. Firebreak is one of the methods to provide an area of reduced fuel load. This method might be the most practical way to suppress forest fires.
However, there is no easy way out since there are still illegal practices by local people and the dry period still causes a high fire risk. The question is not how to solve but how to minimise forest fire risks in Indonesia.