Skies have cleared in southeast Asia after three months as wind and rain dampened the fires that cast a pall over the area; however, fires continue. Satellites show 2 'hot spots' in Java, 23 in Sumatra, and 35 In Kalimantan. Smoke and haze continue to be a local problem <http://www.vensara.com/haze/> .Up to five percent of the Indonesian population has been affected by air pollution problems, causing or magnifying "heart and asthma problems. . . mental and brain disorders, inflammation and respiratory infections, skin and eye allergies." Malaysia has forbidden public comment on fires, smoke and weather by officials, without permission, thus making it unclear whether full information is available about the events. There is considerable concern that peat fires burning into the ground may consume thousands of years of organic accumulation, increasing carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Such fires may go on from years; existing ones date as early as 1983, the year of the last major ENSO event. Peat is normally too moist to burn, but drought conditions can dry peat lands sufficiently to support fire. One major peat fire in Borneo is occurring in a government reclamation project that has drained one million hectares of peat lands to increase crop lands for rice. At least 19 wildlife areas are threatened by the fires, "including a World Heritage site (Ujung Kulon in Java), Ramsar Wetland (Berbak in Sumatra) and a Biosphere Reserve (Tanjung Puting in Kalimantan)", threatening endangered species such as orangutans and hornbills, dependent on such areas.--based on reports by Claire Gilbert, Environment News Service <http://www.envirolink.org/membership>, Indonesia haze reports <http://www.vensara.com/haze/>.