2 weeks ago
Indonesia’s Superman Teen Goes Viral Battling Wildfires After School
Rudiansyah is a 15-year-old student in Indonesia who helps fight forest fires after school.
He works alongside his father, who is a firefighter, and local volunteers.
Rudiansyah learned what to do by joining his father at work.
He wears a Superman costume because he already owned it and wanted to use it.
Many people online called him inspiring and said the costume helped draw attention to the fires.
Other people worried that the costume could catch fire and that he needed better protection.
The fires are especially serious near his home in Central Kalimantan.
Dry conditions linked to El Niño and deforestation have made the fires worse.
Rudiansyah says he helps because the affected area is his home.
Fifteen-year-old Rudiansyah helps his firefighter father and local volunteers battle wildfires after school.
The teenager, from near Palangka Raya in Central Kalimantan, wears a Superman costume while fighting fires.
Rudiansyah says he volunteers because the fires threaten his home and neighborhood.
His costume has drawn praise online for raising awareness, but others warn it is dangerous and flammable.
More than 107,000 hectares of land and forest had burned in Indonesia by August 2026, according to the article.
- Who
- Fifteen-year-old Rudiansyah, his firefighter father Mulyadi, local volunteers, and officially deployed firefighters.
- What
- Rudiansyah has been helping fight Indonesian forest fires after school while wearing a Superman costume.
- Where
- Near Palangka Raya in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia.
- When
- After school; the article reports that more than 107,000 hectares had burned as of August 2026.
- Why
- He says the fires threaten his home and neighborhood, and he prefers helping the firefighting crew to staying home.
Supporters See Awareness and Community Service
Critics Warn of Serious Safety Risks
Meaning of the Superman costume
Supporters See Awareness and Community Service
Supporters say the costume attracts attention to the forest fires and raises awareness among people elsewhere.
Critics Warn of Serious Safety Risks
Critics say the clothing is highly flammable and could put the teenager at risk.
Rudiansyah’s participation
Supporters See Awareness and Community Service
Rudiansyah and his supporters view his after-school volunteering as helping protect his home and community.
Critics Warn of Serious Safety Risks
Some social-media users consider it too dangerous and urged him to use protective equipment such as a mask.
Key facts
- Age
- Rudiansyah is 15 years old.
- Location
- The activity takes place near Palangka Raya in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia.
- Family connection
- His father, Mulyadi, is a firefighter.
- Costume
- Rudiansyah wears a Superman costume he bought earlier.
- Burned area
- More than 107,000 hectares of land and forest had burned by August 2026.
- Comparison
- The article says wildfires burned 110% more land than in 2023, the last El Niño year in Indonesia.
- Firefighting response
- About 50,000 firefighters were officially deployed.
Quotes
Rudiansyah
15‑year‑old volunteer firefighter and Superman costume wearer
“My son understands these operations because after school, with nothing to do, he just joins us to fight fires. So he knows what to do.”
theprint.in
“I’ve had this costume for a while. I bought it some time ago. Rather than not using it, I ended up wearing it to fight the fire.”
theprint.in
Sources
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