Rubbish Fires Erupt from Depok to Gunung Putri, Methane Suspected as Cause
A series of rubbish fires has struck several locations, from Depok to Gunung Putri in Bogor Regency. The incidents occurred within a short timeframe.
The first fire broke out at the Jatiwaringin Final Disposal Site (TPA) in Tangerang Regency on Tuesday (30/6). Firefighters required more than a week to extinguish the blaze, which scorched dozens of hectares. The Tangerang Regency Government declared a Fire Emergency Response Status at TPA Jatiwaringin from 1 to 14 July 2026. Hundreds of personnel were deployed, and the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) employed various methods to bring the fire under control. The blaze was finally extinguished completely after 10 days, affecting 15 hectares of land.
Subsequently, an illegal waste disposal site (TPS) in Cikeas, Gunung Putri, Bogor Regency, caught fire on Tuesday (14/7) and reignited on Thursday (16/7). Wakil Komandan Pemadam Kebakaran Sektor Gunung Putri, Lukman Habib, stated the fire persisted for days because it originated deep within a 10-metre-high pile of rubbish. Difficult terrain hampered firefighting efforts. Lukman explained the site was an illegal dump where household waste was used as landfill, with plans to convert the area into a car park. He suspected the fire was triggered by the land manager burning a mattress, which then spread. Monitoring of the location continues, and the sub-district authorities have been notified for further action.
In Depok, a fire erupted at the Cipayung TPA on Thursday (16/7) at 7.30 pm WIB and was extinguished by 10.52 pm WIB. Deputy Mayor Chandra Rahmansyah stated the fire likely grew rapidly due to accumulated methane gas. CCTV footage showed no individuals at the point of origin, and the cause remains under police investigation. No casualties or material damage were reported. The Head of Depok’s Environmental and Hygiene Agency, Reni Siti, noted the Cipayung TPA is severely overloaded, holding approximately 2.9 million tonnes of waste with a daily intake of 900 to 1,000 tonnes. To prevent future fires, she has requested that firefighters spray the landfill area with water at least twice daily to mitigate the risk posed by the hot weather.