Extreme Heat Triggers 11 Fires Across Tangerang Regency in a Single Day
The Tangerang Regency Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) recorded at least 11 open land fires occurring across various areas of Tangerang Regency, Banten, on Thursday (23/7).
Head of BPBD Tangerang Regency, Achmad Taufik, stated the fires broke out in several locations, ranging from scrubland to waste disposal sites and a waste storage facility. He suspects all incidents were triggered by the extreme hot weather during the ongoing dry season. “It is likely due to the hot weather, for now, it is probably because of the hot weather,” Taufik said.
Despite the multiple fires occurring in a single day, Taufik confirmed that all were successfully handled by BPBD personnel from the nearest fire stations. “All have been handled by the respective posts in the area,” he explained.
BPBD detailed the 11 land fire locations that occurred on Thursday, including a waste disposal area on Jalan Raya Salembaran, Kosambi Timur Village, Kosambi District at 06:50 WIB; a waste disposal site on Jalan Simpang Bitung, Curug Wetan Village, Curug District at 11:50 WIB; a waste disposal area on Jalan Gili Miring, Kampung Melayu Barat Village, Teluknaga District at 12:00 WIB; scrubland in Kampung Cayur, Sindang Sono Village, Sindang Jaya District at 12:07 WIB; a waste storage facility in Mekar Jaya Village, Sepatan District at 12:22 WIB; scrubland in Cileles Village, Tigaraksa District at 12:44 WIB; scrubland in Batara Village Housing Complex, Cikasungka Village, Solear District at 12:44 WIB; scrubland in the Eka Cakra Area, Telagasari Village, Cikupa District at 14:44 WIB; scrubland in Pagedangan Udik Village, Kronjo District at 14:20 WIB; scrubland on Jalan Putera Utama, Pasar Kemis District at 15:42 WIB; and scrubland on Jalan Syekh Mubarok, Pete Village, Tigaraksa District at 17:23 WIB.
Taufik urged the public not to burn rubbish, waste, or scrubland during the dry season. He also reminded residents that the high air temperatures, based on weather forecasts from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), can increase the risk of open land fires. “Furthermore, as we know, the BMKG weather forecast indicates very high temperatures, which is also a cause. So it is not just about people setting fires, but for now, we are seeing it as being caused by the extreme heat,” he said.