TMC Operation to be Conducted This Week to Accelerate Fire Suppression at Landfill

The Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) has announced that a Weather Modification Technology (TMC) operation will be conducted over the fire zone at the Jatiwaringin Final Disposal Site (TPA) in Mauk, Tangerang Regency, Banten, on Sunday (5/7). Deputy Minister of Environment Diaz Faisal Malik Hendropriyono stated in Tangerang on Saturday that the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Region II had confirmed the potential for light rain on Sunday. He explained that the decision to carry out weather engineering was made jointly with relevant agencies to accelerate the handling of the landfill fire. The fire at TPA Jatiwaringin cannot be extinguished quickly, as its emergency characteristics are similar to peatland fires, with hotspots located deep beneath the surface. “This characteristic is similar to peatland fires, because the surface may appear 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 a potential for explosions,” he said. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) is employing an injection method, directly pumping water into the hotspots below the surface of the landfill fire area. This injection method is considered effective in accelerating fire suppression at the site. The water injection operation will be carried out by joint personnel, including firefighters and Manggala Agni specialists from the Ministry of Forestry, with 30 personnel currently deployed. Additionally, firefighting efforts are being optimised through aerial water bombing using two MI-8AMT helicopters equipped with 4,000-litre buckets. “They are experts in extinguishing peat fires, which are similar to this landfill. Because watering from above alone is less effective, as the fire continues to burn underneath, so we need the help of Manggala Agni to inject water down to the hotspots below,” he said.