PORTALJABAR, GARUT REGENCY - The Garut Regency Government (Pemkab) evaluated the emergency response to the fire at the Pasir Bajing Final Waste Processing Site (TPA) in Sukaraja Village, Banyuresmi District, through an online cross-agency coordination meeting on Saturday (10/17/2026). The evaluation reported that the fire had reached 90 percent completion, with the flames on the surface of the waste pile successfully extinguished.

The Head of the Garut Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Aah Anwar Saefulah, stated that the response operation is still focused on extinguishing remaining embers beneath the surface of the waste. The Head of the Garut Regency Environmental Agency (DLH) is acting as the Post Commander (Danpos).

To support smooth handling, the Garut Regency Government has prepared a budget for logistical and operational needs across the agencies involved, including the BPBD, Fire Department (Damkar), Industry and Trade Department (Disperindag), DLH, and Social Services (Dinsos).

Meanwhile, the Head of the Garut Regency Fire Department, Usep Basuki Eko, explained that the firefighting efforts, which have been ongoing for a week, have shown positive progress. The large fire that had previously burned the surface of the garbage pile has now been extinguished, although smoke from embers beneath the surface is still emanating from several areas.

"The first stage of mitigation involves eliminating the flames and smoke on the surface. Now, only the remaining hotspots and smoke remain. The condition resembles peatland, the result of the accumulation of embers," explained Usep.

To combat the remaining embers, the joint team injected water into areas still emitting smoke. This effort was carried out continuously, both day and night, to ensure that the embers below the surface were completely extinguished.

Additionally, security patrols will remain in place for 10 days. After that period, periodic monitoring will be handed over to the Garut Regency Environmental Agency (DLH) to ensure the landfill remains under control.

Usep also expressed his appreciation to all elements involved in handling the fire, including the Fire Department, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) through the 0611 Garut Military District Command and Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob), the Indonesian National Police (Polri) through the Garut Police, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Disaster Preparedness Cadets (Tagana), the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), and the Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP).

"Thanks to the cooperation of all parties, thank God, I can say that the landfill management is 90 percent complete, as there are no more fires or smoke on the surface. God willing, this will be completed within the planned timeframe," he emphasized.

The Head of the Garut Regency Environmental Agency, Jujun Juansyah Nurhakim, stated that his agency is ready to restore sanitation services to the public. The agency will begin collecting and transporting accumulated waste from markets and gradually disinfecting urban areas.

(Garut Communications and Information Service/rka)