Police Investigate Alleged Firecrackers Triggering Plastic Factory Fire in Cengkareng
JAKARTA - Police are still investigating the cause of a fire at a plastic factory on Jalan Bojong Raya, Rawa Buaya, Cengkareng, West Jakarta, which is suspected to have been triggered by firecrackers.
As of now, the exact cause of the fire has not been determined as the investigation process is ongoing.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday (20/3/2026). There were no reports of fatalities in this incident.
The head of criminal investigation at Cengkareng Police Sector, Parman Gultom, stated that his team had conducted an examination at the crime scene.
“It is still under investigation because it is suspected that local children were using firecrackers to wake people for sahur. So we are still looking into it,” Gultom said when contacted on Friday.
Local residents and security personnel reportedly warned them to stop the activity.
“Residents and security had already advised against using firecrackers or fireworks when waking people for sahur,” he said.
Nevertheless, Gultom emphasised that the suspicion still needs to be investigated further.
“It is still just a suspicion, as we must conduct an investigation first to clarify,” he stated.
To date, the factory management has not reported the incident to the police.
The fire is believed to have originated from sparks from firecrackers played by a group of teenagers near the factory area.
The head of operations at the West Jakarta Fire and Rescue Sub-Department, Syaiful Kahfi, explained that the initial information came from statements by security personnel near the location.
“According to the security guard’s account, around 03:23 WIB, there were teenagers playing with firecrackers. They were reprimanded,” Syaiful said.
“The teenagers did not take it well and instead intensified setting off firecrackers in the area. As a result, a firecracker entered the plastic warehouse and immediately set the contents ablaze,” he added.
Police are still delving into witness statements and collecting evidence to confirm the main cause of the fire.