On Thursday, October 12, 2023, a fire once again broke out at the Suwung Final Disposal Site (TPA) in South Denpasar. The primary cause of this incident is believed to be the ignition of methane gas generated by the accumulation of refuse.
The fire ignited at approximately 11:00 WITA and rapidly propagated, releasing plumes of thick black smoke that billowed high into the sky, visible from various vantage points across the city.
Iptu Ketut Sukadi, Head of the Public Relations Section at the Denpasar Police, commented on the situation, stating, “The fire is thought to have been triggered by the heat emanating from the refuse mounds and the methane gas produced, posing a fire risk.”
Eyewitness Gede Mahardika, aged 51, reported that he was at the Suwung TPA office when he suddenly observed a dense cloud of black smoke emerging from one of the waste heaps. Shortly thereafter, the black smoke transitioned into white, blanketing the Sesetan area in South Denpasar.
Upon noticing the rapidly escalating inferno, the landfill’s management promptly contacted the Denpasar City Fire Department and Denpasar BPBD (Regional Disaster Management Agency) to combat the blaze.
As of 16:00 WITA, the fire had yet to be fully extinguished. Ten fire trucks, sourced from Denpasar City, Badung Regency, and Gianyar Regency, were dispatched to quell the blaze. In addition, a loader unit and four excavators were mobilized to clear pathways and provide access to the fire’s epicenter.
Made Rentin, Head of the Bali Province Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), attributed the fire to a prolonged drought, exacerbated by strong gusts of wind. Rentin affirmed that, despite the significant scale of the blaze and the towering plumes of smoke, it remained under control and did not disrupt public activities.
The firefighting brigade included ten fire engines (damkar) dispatched to combat the fire at the Sarbagita Regional Final Disposal Site (TPA Suwung) in Denpasar City. This force comprised six units from Denpasar City, two units from Badung Regency, and two units from Gianyar Regency.
Furthermore, a loader unit and four excavators were deployed to facilitate access for fire trucks, streamlining their ability to discharge water.
Made Rentin and Made Teja, Head of the Bali Province Forestry and Environment Service, were both present at the Suwung TPA fire location, leading the extinguishing operation and directing personnel throughout the firefighting process.
To prepare for potential contingencies, two ambulances from BPBD Bali Province and BPBD Denpasar City were placed on standby.
This unfortunate incident marks the latest in a series of fires at the Suwung landfill, with previous occurrences in 2019 and 2022.