Smoke Still Billowing! Cause of Jatiwaringin Landfill Fire Revealed as Difficult to Extinguish
Tangerang, VIVA – The fire hitting the Jatiwaringin Landfill in Mauk District, Tangerang Regency, Banten, has not yet been fully extinguished as of Wednesday, 1 July 2026. Thick smoke continues to billow from the site, while joint task forces continue to struggle to prevent the flames from spreading to other areas.
Based on the assessment by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the fire, which began on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, at 12:30 WIB, remains active and has the potential to expand further if not immediately controlled. Conditions on the ground indicate that the firefighting process faces much more complex challenges compared to ordinary fires.
One of the primary reasons for the difficulty in extinguishing the fire is the characteristic of the burning material. According to the preliminary assessment by the BNPB, most of the fire points are located within waste piles containing various flammable substances. The fire is not only burning the surface but is also spreading into the deeper layers of the waste heaps, making it harder for officers to reach.
Furthermore, the location of the fire points is situated within waste piles of a certain height. This condition makes it difficult for both firefighting vehicles and personnel on the ground to access the location directly to perform maximum water spraying.
The situation is exacerbated by weather factors. Strong winds accompanied by high temperatures have caused the flames to spread more rapidly to various sides of the landfill area. Consequently, officers must work extra hard to control the rate of spread to prevent further expansion.
In view of these conditions, the Head of BNPB, Lieutenant General TNI Dr Suharyanto, S.Sos., M.M., immediately instructed his subordinates to strengthen field handling through coordination with the local government and to conduct further assessments.
“Efforts must be made to extinguish it immediately,” Suharyanto stated in an official statement.
As an acceleration measure, the BNPB has decided to increase aerial support by deploying water-bombing helicopters. This step is considered effective for reaching fire points located in areas that are difficult to access by ground personnel.
“We are bringing in two water-bombing helicopters and, if necessary, will conduct weather modification operations,” Suharyanto emphasised.
Following these instructions, one MI-8AMT water-bombing helicopter, registration RA-22834, was moved from Jambi to Tangerang on Wednesday, 1 July 2026. Previously, this fleet was used to assist in handling forest and land fires in Jambi Province.