Joint Team Handles Tanker Truck Fire at KM 185 on Cipali Toll Road
Cirebon (ANTARA) — A joint team comprising toll road operators, police, and firefighters handled a tanker truck fire at KM 185+000 on the Cikopo-Palimanan (Cipali) toll road heading towards Cirebon, West Java, on Wednesday morning.
Astra Tol Cipali’s Corporate Communications and Sustainability Management Department Head, Ardam Rafif Trisilo, said the incident was suspected to have originated from sparks that appeared around the vehicle’s rear wheels, which subsequently triggered the fire.
“The incident occurred today at approximately 05:15 WIB. The initial suspicion is that the fire originated from sparks in the rear wheel area of the vehicle,” Ardam said when contacted in Cirebon on Wednesday.
According to him, toll road management officers together with the Highway Patrol Unit (PJR) and local fire brigade immediately moved to secure the area and carry out firefighting operations at the scene.
“The joint team immediately commenced response efforts as soon as the report was received, with the primary focus on road user safety and expediting the firefighting operation,” he said.
He stated that the response and firefighting process was declared complete at 08:33 WIB, after the fire was brought under control and the situation was declared safe.
During the response operation, he said, traffic management measures were implemented to ensure road user safety and to provide space for emergency vehicles.
He explained that traffic heading towards Cirebon was temporarily diverted off the toll road via the Sumberjaya Toll Gate at KM 175, beginning at 08:14 WIB.
He said that lane two at KM 185 towards Cirebon was reopened to road users at 08:42 WIB, followed by the reopening of lane one at 08:45 WIB.
The company urged toll road users to remain vigilant whilst driving, to refrain from stopping on the carriageway to observe incidents, and to always follow the directions of officers on the ground.
“We extend our apologies for the inconvenience caused and urge road users to remain vigilant and comply with the directions of officers on the ground,” he said.