Up in smoke: What no one wants to say about fires

The return of the tropical fire season brings with it the familiar haze, headlines, and blame game, with a medium risk of severe haze predicted for 2025. However, logic suggests that established plantation owners are unlikely to intentionally burn their own crops, as it's economically self-destructive. Large plantations often have sophisticated fire prevention and suppression measures in place. Fires near plantations are more likely due to external factors or land preparation, not intentional burning during harvesting. Blaming plantations overlooks the complex reality of fire origins and the efforts they make to prevent them.