Fire in Cimuning, Dangerously Close to Residents

JAKARTA — Amid the residents’ homes in Cimuning, Mustikajaya, Bekasi, one thing felt perilously close that night: the fire and large-capacity LPG tanks that nearly became an additional threat. The blaze that struck the Cimuning Bulk LPG Filling Station (SPBE) on Wednesday (1/4/2026) night not only scorched the land but also left lingering worries about how near the danger was to the community. Signs had appeared earlier that afternoon. Ningsih (30), a local employee and resident, recalled smelling gas from around 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. WIB. A report was made, and repairs were carried out. The odour was initially dismissed as part of routine activities. In her 18 years living nearby, Ningsih had only heard of a similar leak once before, and it had ended without incident. “I heard it happened once, but it was safe. This time, no one expected it. The impact was much bigger,” she said. As night approached, the atmosphere gradually shifted. Employees began to distance themselves from the site, followed by residents who started to panic after being notified of the gas leak. Then night fell with the flames. The fire engulfed around 2,000 square metres of land at the SPBE Cimuning. The inferno grew amid ongoing activities, presenting significant risks. At the location, there were large-capacity LPG tanks not far from the residential areas, making the situation even more alarming. Acting Head of the Bekasi City Fire and Rescue Department, Heryanto, stated that the preliminary suspicion for the fire was an electrical short circuit. “The burnt area is around 2,000 square metres. For the preliminary suspicion, it was due to an electrical short circuit,” Heryanto said.