Indonesia's neighbours sent in fire fighters to train local crews. Asthma Association of Singapore advises sufferers to stay indoors. In Pekanbaru, government workers issued masks to public. But fires symptomatic of unhealthy forest management policy. Calls for rationalisation of timber processing industry and moratorium on large-scale plantations.
Local government asks Jakarta for help.
Head of local Environmental Agency blames remoteness and lack of equipment for increase. Deputy governor blames 'copy cat' burning. Disasters Co-ordination Minister Basri Hasanuddin visits W. Sumatra and calls on village heads to warn forest and plantation concessionaires about burning. Singapore urges Indonesia to punish companies allegedly responsible for forest fires. Singapore air quality not badly affected by haze due to wind direction.