Pasar Rebo Market in Purwakarta Engulfed in Flames as Firefighters Battle Blaze

Pasar Rebo market, located on Jalan Basuki Rachmat in Nagrikidul subdistrict, Purwakarta, West Java, was engulfed in a major fire. The large blaze consumed dozens of stalls situated at the rear of the market.

The flames spread rapidly, devouring market buildings and rising high into the sky, illuminating the surrounding area.

Observations on Tuesday (24/2/2026) showed traders scrambling to salvage merchandise from stalls not yet reached by the fire. Those whose stalls had already been destroyed could only watch helplessly as their goods were reduced to ashes.

Firefighters battled to extinguish the blaze. Over a dozen fire engines from Purwakarta Regency, private companies and Karawang Regency were mobilised for the firefighting operation.

According to market traders, the fire initially appeared at a coconut stall, though the exact cause remains unknown. The fire started at approximately 02:00 Western Indonesian Time and spread rapidly due to the abundance of flammable materials inside the market.

“Around half past two, it came from block C inside — they say it started at the coconut stall, but the cause is still unknown,” said Zaenudin, a rice trader who was busy salvaging his merchandise on Tuesday (24/2/2026).

Zaenudin explained that he had just restocked his goods, meaning his inventory was at full capacity. Fortunately, some of his merchandise was able to be saved.

“I was having my pre-dawn meal when it happened. My stock happened to be full — some of it has been brought outside. Block C was completely destroyed by the fire,” he added.

The traders’ stalls, largely filled with fabric, plastic and other materials, caused the flames to become increasingly difficult to control.

The Purwakarta Regency Fire Department responded immediately upon receiving the report. However, the firefighting effort proved far from straightforward.

The narrow access road at the rear of the market only permitted one fire engine to enter at a time. This condition made it difficult for crews to reach the seat of the fire effectively.

Amid the firefighting efforts, traders and local residents pitched in with whatever equipment they had to hand. They were seen attempting to douse the flames using buckets of water, despite the fire continuing to grow.

At the time of reporting, the precise cause of the fire remained unknown. Firefighters were still focused on cooling operations and ensuring the fire was fully extinguished to prevent reignition.