Jakarta Gov Moves Fast to Tackle Kramat Jati Land Fire

The Jakarta administration is taking swift action to handle a fire at an illegal dump site on Jalan Penggilingan Baru I, Kramat Jati, East Jakarta.

We want to ensure an incident like this never happens again

Jakarta’s Communications, Informatics, and Statistics Agency (Diskominfotik) Head, Marulina Dewi emphasized that the current priority is a full-scale resolution—from putting out the flames to managing the remaining waste.

"Since yesterday, the Fire and Rescue Agency has been working tirelessly to douse the main blaze. Now that the main fire is out, the next challenge is tackling the smoldering embers buried deep beneath the waste piles," Marulina stated while inspecting the site, Monday (8/3).

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Despite the surface appears wet from constant dousing, she explained, thick smoke continues to billow from deep within the debris. This indicates a high risk of subterranean fire spread, potentially reaching depths of one to two meters beneath the surface.

"Our teams are currently deploying high-pressure nozzles in areas where smoke persists. These efforts are being bolstered by related units that have deployed heavy machinery to the site to assist in the operation," she added.

To streamline the operation, the Environmental Agency is also clearing out waste from areas confirmed to be fire-free.

"The plan is to haul away all unburned debris to eliminate any fuel for potential future fires. We want to ensure an incident like this never happens again," she explained.

She went on to say that the site is not a designated waste facility but has become a frequent target for illegal dumping, leading to massive waste accumulation. Following the fire, the Environmental Agency is conducting a phased cleanup.

The first phase focuses on safe, unaffected zones, while the second phase will tackle the fire-damaged areas once cleared by the Fire and Rescue Agency.

She is urging the public to stop illegal dumping. The adminiatrarion keeps promoting promote the 'Sort, Transport, Process, and Utilize' movement, utilizing 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) facilities to ensure that only residual waste is sent to the Bantargebang Landfill.

Marulina also expressed profound grief over the passing of Andriyono, the Cipayung Sector Squad Leader of East Jakarta Fire and Rescue Sub-agency, who tragically died in the line of duty.

"We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased. The administration, through the Fire and Rescue Agency, will ensure that all his rights and benefits are met following prevailing regulations," she stated solemnly.