Galuga Landfill in Bogor Catches Fire as Helicopter Carries Out Water Bombing

An Indonesian Air Force helicopter dropped water on hard-to-reach fire points at the Galuga landfill in Bogor, West Java, after flames spread through the site.

Bogor Regent Rudy Susmanto said the helicopter operated from Atang Sendjaja Air Base. Fire trucks could not reach the rear section of the landfill, where the fire was burning far from the main access road. Crews had to connect hoses over a distance of about 400 to 500 meters, reducing water pressure before it reached the flames.

The fire started at about 4 p.m. on Monday and grew larger around midnight. Authorities began bringing it under control at about 3:30 a.m., but several fire points still needed to be extinguished.

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We are being assisted by the Indonesian Air Force with a water bombing system, spraying water from the air using a helicopter from Atang Sendjaja Air Base.

Rudy said the fire began on farmland next to the landfill, not in the active waste pile. It later spread to an old disposal area that is no longer used. Ground operations involved the fire and rescue service, the regional disaster agency, the military and Bogor police. Police also deployed a water cannon.

Officials dug a trench between the farmland and the landfill to prevent the flames from reaching active waste piles. Rudy said no one was killed. Authorities were using a drone to calculate the burned area, while the cause of the fire had not yet been determined.

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The fire point is at the farthest rear section, so fire trucks cannot access it.