KLH reveals why Jatiwaringin landfill fire is difficult to control
The Ministry of Environment (KLH) has stated that handling the fire at the Jatiwaringin Final Disposal Site (TPA) in Mauk, Tangerang Regency, Banten, is difficult to control quickly because the waste has characteristics similar to peatland fires.
Deputy Minister of Environment Diaz Faisal Malik Hendropriyono said on Saturday that the fire burning the rubbish is not only on the surface but is also spreading and burning beneath the thick piles of waste. Consequently, emergency fire control efforts require considerable time and the correct handling approach.
“Indeed, extinguishing this is not an easy matter. Its characteristics are similar to peatland fires. Because the surface may appear to be extinguished, but when we look underneath, there is still fire. So it can continue to burn at any time, and because there is CH4, there is potential for an explosion,” he explained.
He added that the joint firefighting operation faces several challenges that are the focus of resolution efforts. The ministry will deploy thermal drones, technology that uses infrared cameras to detect heat radiation, to analyse the fire sources and hotspots. “So we can only carry out monitoring analysis via drones periodically,” he said.
The next step involves deploying two mobile monitoring systems aimed at monitoring the air at the fire location. One monitors substances such as SO2 (sulphur dioxide), NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), and also PM 1.0 and PM 2.5.
“The quality standard considered good is 15.5, and moderate is from 15.5 to 55.5; after that, it is unhealthy and hazardous, and so on. And this has already reached a level of 1,000. So for several days it has been at a level of 1,000, but last night I saw it drop drastically,” he stated.
He also added that, given the same characteristics as peatland fires, the government, through the Ministry of Forestry, has deployed 30 Manggala Agni team personnel from Sulawesi and West Java. They already have considerable experience and are equipped with special high-pressure equipment to extinguish fires directly at hotspots beneath the surface of the waste piles.
“Because this landfill may not be ineffective, but it is less effective if only watered from above. Because underneath it remains on fire, so we need the help of Manggala Agni to inject water right down to the points below,” he said.
Furthermore, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), together with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), is preparing a Weather Modification Technology (TMC) operation scheme to help accelerate the extinguishing process. This is so that the fire emergency situation, which covers approximately 15 hectares, can be brought under control soon.
“So it is possible to carry out the TMC operation tomorrow. We will do it together with BNPB and BMKG,” he said.