Jatiwaringin Landfill Fire Continues After a Week, Only 45% Extinguished

A week after igniting, firefighters have only managed to extinguish 45% of the 14-hectare blaze at the Jatiwaringin landfill in Tangerang, Banten. The fire, which began on June 30, continues to smolder within the massive trash piles.

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The extinguishing progress has made significant progress, reaching 45 percent of the total burned area of 14 hectares.

An intensive effort involving approximately 300 personnel from various agencies, including the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), military, police, and environmental groups, is underway. They are supported by a fleet of 19 fire engines, 8 excavators, 3 water-bombing helicopters, and 2 monitoring drones.

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The situation on the ground shows white smoke still visible among the blackened land scorched by the fire. Several small hotspots are visible among the piles of trash.

Officials describe the fire as challenging due to its nature, with flames burning deep within the trash resembling peat fires. Firefighters are employing specialized techniques, including water injection into the waste and using excavators to break apart the burning material. Water-bombing helicopters are also dousing the affected areas from above.

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The firefighting efforts require special handling. The land is like peatland, where the fire is not on the surface but smoldering inside the trash piles.

To accelerate the process, ground teams will now extend their operations until 10 p.m. local time. The fire is believed to have been sparked by extreme heat igniting methane gas within the landfill's waste.

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This method involves wetting the land so that the fire within the piles is immediately extinguished. With this extension of operating hours, it is hoped that the extinguishing efforts will run optimally.