64 Residents Evacuated Due to Smoke from Jatiwaringin Landfill Fire

The Banten Regional Police (Polda Banten) has deployed a team to assist in the evacuation of 33 families, comprising 64 individuals, affected by smoke from the fire at the Jatiwaringin Final Disposal Site (TPA) in Mauk, Tangerang Regency, which has been burning since Tuesday (29/6).

‘We have also evacuated 33 families consisting of 64 affected individuals to suitable temporary housing so they can reside safely and comfortably,’ said Polda Banten Head of Public Relations, Senior Commissioner Maruli Ahiles Hutapea, in a written statement received in Tangerang on Thursday.

He stated that the evacuation assistance, provided through the Tangerang City Police, saw all directly affected residents moved to temporary housing as a location safe from the Jatiwaringin TPA fire. In addition, the police have coordinated with the Tangerang Regency Government to carry out mitigation and fire management.

Senior Commissioner Maruli added that Polda Banten has prepared personnel from the Samapta Directorate and the Mobile Brigade Unit to assist with firefighting operations. ‘Polda Banten has also prepared personnel from Ditsamapta and Satbrimob to assist the firefighting process. Furthermore, we have prepared personal protective equipment in the form of masks for all personnel on duty,’ he explained.

Previously, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has been continuously optimising firefighting operations at the Jatiwaringin TPA in Mauk, Tangerang Regency, Banten, through aerial water bombing using helicopters. ‘We continue to optimise the firefighting; later this afternoon both helicopters will conduct another water drop. So, these are our efforts to resolve the fire at the Jatiwaringin TPA,’ said BNPB Director of Operational Control Coordination, Brigadier General Djohan Darmawan.

The aerial water bombing operation using helicopters will continue to be maximised to minimise the flames still scattered across the peak of the waste pile. ‘The water bombing only became active yesterday. Even then, it was not yet optimal, lasting only up to one hour. So, because it has just been relocated, we will maximise it later,’ he stated.

In addition to optimising aerial firefighting operations, the BNPB together with the Tangerang Regency government is currently opening access routes to allow fire engines to penetrate the mountains of waste and reach the fire hotspots. ‘One of the efforts is constructing a breakthrough road, so that vehicles or hoses from our firefighting colleagues can get in,’ he said.