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‘Keep up the spirit’: Indonesian teenage ‘Superman’ joins wildfire fight
A 17-year-old Indonesian named Rudiyansha has become known as a 'forest hero' for his volunteer firefighting work in Borneo, where he wears a Superman costume. His story, told by his father and covered by multiple news sources, highlights the region's fire crisis as why he feels 'really happy' to help despite the exhausting and hazardous conditions.
As wildfires rage across Borneo, a 17-year-old Indonesian has found an unconventional way to bring attention to the crisis: fighting the flames in a Superman costume. Rudiyansah, a 17-year-old from Palangkaraya in Central Kalimantan, has joined his father's volunteer firefighting group, donning the red-and-blue suit to help douse blazes that have been destroying large parts of the island, with smoke blanketing the region.
A Hero's Calling
Rudiyansah's involvement is a family affair. His father, Mulyadi, established the volunteer firefighting group in 2020 and leads the effort. Mulyadi described the haze from this year's fire season as the worst the group had seen since its inception, according to the Straits Times and CNA. Despite the danger, Rudiyansah is committed, saying he helps because he's happy to assist locals, though he admits it's tiring.
The origins of his costume are playful—he told ABC Radio that he began wearing it this year. However, the impact has been profound. A video of him using a hosepipe to wet down foliage went viral, earning him millions of views and the title of 'forest hero' from Indonesia's forestry minister.
"Honestly, I'm really happy because I can help locals, even though it feels really tiring," Rudiyansah said.
Father Knows Best
His father, Mulyadi, offers a grounded perspective on his son's heroic persona. He notes that at home, Rudiyansah is just a 'normal kid', but his commitment to the cause is real. According to Mulyadi, the lack of water is the biggest challenge they face, a detail he shared with CNA.
A Growing Crisis
This year's fires have been exceptionally severe. More than 200,000 hectares have burned since January, according to reports, an area larger than the one that burned in 2019 and 2023. Officials attribute the worsening conditions to El Nino, which brings drought to the region, and the effects of human-caused climate change.
The newspaper reported that the fires have triggered a response from the Indonesian government, which has deployed additional troops and aircraft to help contain the blazes and clear the smoke. This haze has extended beyond national borders, reaching neighboring Malaysia and prompting regional concern.
How each outlet told it
CNA
Framing: Similar to others, focusing on the 'Superman' theme and the motivational message — Detailed and sympathetic
Facts Included:
Rudiyansah, 17, dresses as Superman and helps fight wildfires in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan
He joined his father's volunteer firefighting group since 2023
His video went viral, earning him the title 'forest hero' from the forestry minister
He quoted: "I'm really happy because I can help locals, even though it feels really tiring"
His father, Mulyadi, calls him a 'normal kid' at home and mentions water shortages
Fires burned more than 200,000 hectares from January to July, larger than in 2019 and 2023 El Nino seasons
Government ordered more troop and aircraft deployments; smog reached Malaysia
El Nino and human-caused climate change are explained as factors
Rudiyansah dreams of being a forest ranger and calls on firefighters to 'keep up the spirit'
Framing: Emphasizes the teenager's superhero persona and his motivational role in fighting wildfires — Inspirational and admiring of the teen's dedication
Facts Included:
Rudiyansah, a 17-year-old Indonesian, joins volunteer firefighting in Palangkaraya, Borneo
He has helped since 2023 and began wearing a Superman costume this year
Video of him went viral, earning him the title 'forest hero' from the forestry minister
His father, Mulyadi, leads the volunteer group and describes him as a 'normal kid' at home
Fires burned more than 200,000 hectares between January and July, larger than in 2019 and 2023 El Nino seasons
Government ordered more troop and aircraft deployments; smog reached Malaysia
El Nino and human-caused climate change conditions are noted as worsening factors
Rudiyansah dreams of becoming a forest ranger and calls on firefighters to 'keep up the spirit'
Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.
Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimRudiyansah is a 17-year-old Indonesian teenager.
ClaimFires between January and July burned more than 200,000 hectares of land, an area three times the size of the capital Jakarta, according to the government.
ClaimHuman-caused climate change can amplify El Nino's impacts because a warmer ocean and atmosphere make more energy and moisture available to feed extreme weather events.
5 outlets · 6 articles consulted: CNA, The Japan Times, Malay Mail, The Straits Times, South China Morning Post25 claims extractedVersion 3Written 2026-08-24