Indonesian teenager Rudiyansah has gained attention for fighting wildfires in Borneo while wearing his favourite Superman costume. The 17-year-old helps volunteers tackle fires that have damaged large areas around Palangkaraya.
Indonesia has battled severe fires that have covered parts of the island with thick smog. Borneo is shared by Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, making the fires a major regional environmental concern.
Teen Fights Fires in Superman Costume
Rudiyansah has helped his father’s volunteer firefighting group since 2023. This year, however, he decided to wear a red and blue Superman costume while helping extinguish fires across the scorched landscape.
The teenager said he wears the costume simply for fun. However, videos showing him using a hose to wet burning vegetation have gone viral, attracting millions of views and earning him recognition as a “forest hero.”
Young Volunteer Gains Public Attention
Rudiyansah said he feels happy to help local residents despite the exhausting work. He also explained that he wets his costume before entering the fields to reduce the risk of it catching fire.
His father, Mulyadi, said this year’s haze was the worst his volunteer group had experienced since its formation in 2020. He added that Rudiyansah behaves like a normal teenager at home but joins him whenever he heads out to fight fires.
