Smoke billows up from the charred stumps of trees that were burned to the ground just a few hours ago. Flames can still be seen licking at the branches of a fallen acacia tree. The sky is clear, and residents of Sumber Jaya village, Siak Kecil district, Bengkalis regency, Riau, are not overly concerned about the wildfire raging just five kilometers away.

"The fire will be dying down soon," said Yur Nelis, 50, in mid April, to Tempo.

The blaze had