Galuga landfill fire brought under control, though smoke still billows
“By 03:30 WIB the fire had begun to be brought under control. There are only a few remaining hotspots that we must extinguish today.”
Bogor Regency, West Java (ANTARA) — Bogor Regent Rudi Susmanto said the fire at the Galuga final waste disposal site (TPA) in Cibungbulang, Bogor Regency, has been brought under control, although smoke was still visibly billowing until around 10:00 WIB on Tuesday, some 17 hours after the blaze first broke out.
According to ANTARA’s observations at the scene, greyish-white smoke rose from several points on the side of the landfill area bordering agricultural land.
Large flames were no longer visible, but plumes of smoke still enveloped part of the burnt area. Several sections of the land also appeared blackened after being engulfed by fire throughout the night.
The fire was first detected on Monday (7/9) at around 16:00 WIB. The flames then grew larger towards midnight, producing plumes of smoke visible from a distance.
“By 03:30 WIB the fire had begun to be brought under control. There are only a few remaining hotspots that we must extinguish today,” said Rudi while inspecting the site.
He explained that the fire originated on farmland adjacent to the Galuga landfill, not from the active waste piles. The flames then spread to an old, disused dumping area.
Head of the Bogor Regency Fire and Rescue Service (Damkarmat) Yudi Santosa said access to the fire’s source was an obstacle in the extinguishing process, as it is located at the rear of the landfill area.
More than 100 combined personnel from the fire service, the regional disaster management agency (BPBD), the TNI, the Bogor Police and other elements were deployed. Police also deployed water cannon vehicles, while a TNI Air Force helicopter was prepared to carry out water bombing.
The Bogor Regency Government also suspended services at the Galuga landfill for one day on Tuesday so that access to the site could be prioritised for water distribution and the mobilisation of fire-fighting vehicles.
There were no fatalities in the incident. The extent of the burnt area and the cause of the fire are still under investigation.