Indonesia, Aug. 24 -- South Kalimantan Governor H. Muhidin urged residents in the areas affected by forest and land fires to wear masks to protect themselves from smoke.

"If masks are distributed, please take them and wear them," Muhidin said in a statement received in Banjarbaru on Monday.

Muhidin said protecting public health was an important action, as smoke continued to spread from several forest and land fire hotspots.

Residents near the fires are particularly vulnerable to health problems caused by prolonged exposure to smoke, he said.

Muhidin also urged the residents with health complaints, especially symptoms of acute respiratory infections, to seek care at health facilities prepared in affected areas.

"There are health servi...