KLH deploys thermal drones to detect hotspots at Jatiwaringin landfill
The Ministry of Environment (KLH)/Environmental Control Agency (BPLH) will deploy thermal drone technology to help detect hotspots from the fire at the Jatiwaringin landfill in Mauk, Tangerang Regency, Banten, which has been burning since Tuesday (30/6).
Deputy Minister of Environment Diaz Faisal Malik Hendropriyono said the plan to deploy this technology is intended to make it easier for field officers to control the landfill fire.
“We have also asked the Gakkum (Law Enforcement) team to coordinate with the airport authority and the Indonesian Air Force, so that monitoring and analysis can be carried out periodically using thermal drones,” said Deputy Minister Diaz after inspecting the Jatiwaringin landfill fire in Tangerang on Saturday afternoon.
According to him, this is a breakthrough in tackling the Jatiwaringin landfill fire, which has been ongoing for five days, with the firefighting effort being handled by a joint team from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), KLH, the Ministry of Forestry, and the local government.
“So there are several challenges that we discussed and we are pushing for resolution through this scheme,” said Deputy Minister Diaz.
To support hotspot tracking, his party is coordinating with the airport and the Indonesian Air Force as the agencies with the authority to issue drone flight permits, so that the aerial firefighting process using water-bombing helicopters is not disrupted.
“But because this area has many helicopters passing through and is also close to the airport, monitoring can only be carried out at certain times,” he said.
Meanwhile, observations at the location on Saturday afternoon showed plumes of smoke and hotspots still burning in several mounds of waste. Firefighting efforts are continuing in an integrated manner via air and land routes.
Two BNPB water-bombing helicopters have been redeployed to extinguish hotspots that are difficult to reach from the ground.
According to a BNPB report, out of the 15-hectare landfill area affected by the fire, approximately 40 percent of the hotspots have now been handled and brought under control.