Banten Governor warns of fire risk from waste during dry season

Tangerang (ANTARA) - Banten Governor Andra Soni has reminded the public to remain alert to the potential for fires originating from piles of waste, especially during the dry season, as decomposing rubbish can produce methane gas.

Drawing lessons from the recent case at the Jatiwaringin landfill, the governor noted that although the fire there was extinguished after 10 days, the risk of fire remains high due to the hot weather.

Andra therefore urged the community to get into the habit of sorting household waste. Unsorted waste that accumulates can generate methane gas, which easily triggers fires.

“Let us start sorting waste so that the risk of fire can be minimised while keeping the environment healthy,” he said.

A joint team from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Environment, and the Indonesian National Armed Forces/National Police (TNI/Polri) has successfully extinguished the fire across the entire 18-hectare affected area.

Head of the Tangerang Regency BPBD, Achmad Taufik, said that although the emergency situation is now under control, his team remains on standby and will continue deploying fire engines to spray the waste piles at the Jatiwaringin landfill for the next three to four days.

“The Regency Government plans to build hydrants at the Jatiwaringin landfill, starting with five units initially,” Achmad said.

Head of the BNPB Data, Information and Communication Centre, Abdul Muhari, stated in an official release that the success was the result of a concerted and collaborative effort by the joint emergency response team from the time the incident was reported on 30 June until Thursday evening (9/7).

“The main area of the Jatiwaringin landfill, covering approximately 15 hectares affected by the fire, has been reported as 100 per cent extinguished and is currently in an intensive cooling phase,” he revealed.