Those Left Behind Are Fighters Too: A Story from Barito Kuala

Every time firefighters head out to burning land, a family waits at home. Most of them eventually come back. But in Barito Kuala, South Kalimantan, on the Indonesian side of Borneo, one family waited too long. Today, their focus is keeping a firefighter's children in school.

The late Mr. Nurdin, a firefighter, died in the line of duty while battling forest and land fires. He left in the most honorable way, while protecting others. At home, his wife and three school-age children are learning to carry on without him.

A Home That Keeps Going

Loss does not stop the days. The children still have to go to school, and their mother now carries the roles the two parents once shared.

Imam Santoso, an education advocate and lecturer in metallurgical engineering at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), traveled to Barito Kuala and spent time with the family. "Talking with this family made me see that those left behind are fighters too," he said. "There is a wife who now carries on at home, and there are children who still have dreams. His fight did not end. It is being carried on by his family."

School as a Foundation

For Santoso, what matters most is keeping the children in school. "For me, education is the most important thing we can give a child," he said.

Through Langkah Berdampak, Kahf is walking with the family in a simple way: making sure all three children can stay in school, from school fees to books and uniforms, along with basic food supplies and financial support for daily needs.

"Of course, our support cannot heal the family's loss," said Astri Wahyuni, Director of Corporate Affairs at ParagonCorp. "But we hope it can ease the burden a little, since the children still have a long road of education ahead."

A Dream Carried On

Before leaving, Santoso shared a hope for the children. "I hope you can go far in school and succeed, and carry on your father's dream of being useful and helping many people."

Helping others was the work their father did to the very end. Now that dream rests with three children who still set off for school every morning.

To every firefighter who has fallen while protecting others, and to the families carrying on their fight: thank you.

Read more: Standing in the Smoke: Stories from the Front Line of Indonesia's Forest Fires

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Barito Kuala, South Kalimantan, Indonesia | November 2026