Malang, en.SERU.co.id – The alleged cause of the fire at Supit Urang landfill that burned more than eight hectares of waste area has begun to be mapped. In addition, the solution of using milk bacteria liquid to control methane gas reaction pressure was continued with covering using soil and sirtu.
Acting Head of the Malang City Environmental Agency (DLH), Drs. Gamaliel Raymond Hatigoran Matondang MAP, explained that the initial fire point was detected on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, around 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. WIB. On the southern side of the landfill, precisely in the bamboo shed area.
“Sparks from waste burning hit the bamboo, then grew larger and spread. Because the wind was quite strong, the fire crossed the river and seized dry grass in the Supit Urang landfill area,” said Raymond on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
He stated that the alleged trigger of the fire was waste burning activity near a chicken coop belonging to a livestock employee located outside the landfill area. The fire had a quite extensive impact. From a total of 20 hectares of waste landfill area macroscopically at Supit Urang landfill, around eight hectares were burned. That eight-hectare area covered approximately four hectares in the old landfill area and four hectares in the new landfill area.
A joint team was immediately deployed to extinguish the blaze. Extinguishing efforts lasted until 12:00 a.m. WIB, yet the fire was not completely extinguished, because fire points were found again the next morning.
The continued extinguishing process involved cooperation from various parties and agencies. Among them were the Malang City Fire Department, Malang Regency Fire Department, fleet assistance from PT Bentoel, Grendel, and the East Java Provincial Public Works Agency to expand the extinguishing reach.
In the process, to dampen the potential danger from ignited methane gas inside the waste piles, officers launched a special strategy. Spraying using milk bacteria liquid was carried out to suppress the methane gas reaction, followed by covering using soil and sirtu.
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“This step of covering with soil and sirtu is important to reduce the concentration of methane gas so that the fire does not grow larger,” explained Raymond.
He added that controlling methane gas became the main focus, learning from the experience of the landfill fire three to five years ago. At that time, extinguishing required up to three days, because methane gas was ignited and became fuel for the fire.
Meanwhile, the impact of the smoke billows from the fire was felt by residents as far as West Malang, including the Bukit Dieng residential area. However, the volume of smoke was reported to have decreased significantly toward midnight.
As a recovery step and long-term anticipation, the Malang City Environmental Agency plans follow-up covering using soil and sirtu. As well as planning the installation of geomembrane that has resistance to fire in the Supit Urang landfill area. (ws15/rhd)
