Jatiwaringin Landfill Fire: Tangerang Regency Declares State of Emergency
The Tangerang Regency administration in Banten Province has officially raised the status of the Jatiwaringin Final Disposal Site fire in Mauk District from alert to emergency response. This strategic move aims to optimise and accelerate firefighting efforts as the blaze continues to spread.
“We have determined that this has entered the emergency category. This concerns public health and the risk of the fire continuing to spread, so we have set this status,” said Tangerang Regent Moch Maesyal Rasyid in Tangerang on Wednesday.
Maesyal explained that the status upgrade was based on the results of an evaluation meeting on the landfill fire response held with the Regional Disaster Management Agency, the Environmental and Sanitation Agency, and other relevant agencies since Tuesday. Following the decision, the regent immediately issued a decree regarding the escalation of the disaster management status.
“This is a consideration because the impact is definitely smoke. This smoke is carried by the wind and is very close to residential areas,” he explained. The status upgrade was based on several crucial indicators, including the expansion of the fire area, a surge in the number of hotspots, the forecast for the dry season, the limited capacity of field personnel, and the extent of the resulting social impact.
To extinguish hotspots that are difficult to reach by land, the Tangerang Regency Government is coordinating with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency to request air support. “With this situation, the BNPB helicopter is planned to assist with water bombing from the air because there are locations that cannot be accessed by vehicles,” said Maesyal.
The regent expressed hope that by raising the status to emergency response, all efforts to tackle the fire at the Jatiwaringin landfill could be maximised with cross-sector support. “We ask for assistance from all parties to handle this problem so that the fire can be extinguished quickly, including efforts to prevent public health issues,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the BNPB’s Deputy for Emergency Management has been conducting strict monitoring since Wednesday morning as the fire continues to burn and has the potential to spread further. The Head of BNPB, Suharyanto, has instructed his staff to immediately go to the location to conduct further assessments, coordinate with the local government, and strengthen firefighting operations.
Based on preliminary assessments, the firefighting process is facing major obstacles because the burning material is dominated by piles of highly flammable waste. The hotspots are at a height that is difficult for ground crews to reach. The situation is exacerbated by strong winds and extreme heat, causing the fire to spread rapidly in various directions.
To accelerate control of the situation, the Head of BNPB has ordered the deployment of water-bombing helicopters to support firefighting operations from the air. “We are deploying two water-bombing helicopters and, if necessary, will conduct weather modification operations,” said Suharyanto.
Meanwhile, ground firefighting efforts continue to be intensified with the deployment of 10 fire engines from various agencies. Crews are focusing their spraying on accessible areas to contain the spread of the fire. It is estimated that the burned area has now reached 15 hectares. The adverse impact of the fire is already affecting the surrounding community, with 30 families, comprising 52 individuals, forced to evacuate to the Tanjakan Mekar Village Hall due to exposure to thick, hazardous smoke.