Government deploys two additional helicopters to combat TPA Jatiwaringin fire

Firefighting operations at the Jatiwaringin Final Disposal Site (TPA) in Mauk, Tangerang Regency, Banten, were intensified on Monday with the deployment of two additional water-bombing helicopters, bringing the total number of aircraft in operation to four.

“There were previously two helicopters continuously dropping water. Now there are two more, making it four helicopters,” said Minister of Environment Jumhur Hidayat in a confirmed statement from Tangerang on Monday.

In addition to bolstering the aerial operation, joint ground crews from the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Forestry are continuing suppression efforts using fire engines and heavy machinery. Authorities are employing an injection method to extinguish flames burning beneath the waste piles.

“Manggala Agni will carry out injection (suppression from below). In theory, the fire should be extinguished, but if the heat persists, there is potential for it to reignite if we are not vigilant,” Jumhur Hidayat stated.

Significant progress has been reported, with the active fire zone reduced to approximately 3.6 percent of the total 18-hectare affected area, or roughly 1.68 hectares. On-site monitoring by ANTARA observed smoke plumes and flames still active on several waste mounds, particularly in the western and southern sections, while integrated injection-based suppression continued. Three BNPB water-bombing helicopters were seen conducting aerial drops on hotspots inaccessible from the ground.