Chronology of the Terrible Fire at 3 Textile Factories in Bandung, Fire Department Responds with 'Code Red'

Kapanlagi.com - A massive fire engulfed the Industrial area of Kampung Sadang, Rahayu Village, Margaasih District, Bandung Regency, West Java, on Thursday, January 30. Thick black smoke was seen rising high, attracting the attention of shocked local residents.

The Bandung Regency Fire Department (Disdamkar) received reports of the fire at 4:55 PM WIB. Seeing the concerning situation, Disdamkar issued a 'Code Red' and deployed 12 fire engines from various posts in Bandung Regency, with support from the cities of Bandung and Cimahi.

The firefighting process was very challenging and took nearly 13 hours. The fire was finally extinguished completely on Friday, January 31, 2025, at around 5:36 AM WIB. Here are the chronological facts of this major fire incident, summarized by Kapanlagi.com.

1. Major Fire in Margaasih Industrial Area, Bandung

A massive fire shook the Kampung Sadang industrial area in Rahayu Village, Margaasih District, Bandung Regency, on Thursday, January 30, 2025, engulfing three textile factories—PT Lakistar, PT Aneka Lem, and PT Abadi Prima—which produce accessories, adhesives, and fabrics. Thick black smoke billowed high, attracting the attention of local residents and complicating firefighting efforts.

The Bandung Regency Fire Department (Disdamkar) quickly mobilized after receiving a report at 16:55 WIB, deploying 12 fire trucks from various posts, and requested support from the cities of Bandung and Cimahi. The rapidly spreading fire, fueled by flammable materials such as fabrics and adhesives, posed a significant challenge for the firefighters to prevent it from spreading to other areas.

"Teams from Ciparay, Baleendah, Pacira, and Cileunyi were deployed to the location with a total of 11 vehicles, including fire trucks and rescue vehicles," said the Head of the Bandung Regency Fire Department, Iman Irianto, to ANTARA.

2. Fire Department Implements 'Code Red' to Handle Fire

When firefighters arrived at the scene, they were confronted with flames that had already spread and were difficult to control. In facing this critical situation, the Bandung Regency Fire Department immediately issued a 'Code Red', an emergency signal indicating that the fire had reached a dangerous level and required extra handling as well as reinforcement of firefighting units from various regions.

A total of 15 firefighting units, including those from Cimahi City and Bandung City, were deployed to extinguish the fire intensively, spraying water at the main fire points to prevent it from spreading to other buildings around the factory.

However, despite the firefighters' best efforts, strong winds worsened the situation, expanding the reach of the fire and adding challenges due to the limited water supply. The non-functioning hydrants around the location forced them to seek water sources further away, slowing down the extinguishing process and prolonging the duration of this disaster.

"Considering the conditions on the ground, our team issued a code red. This means the escalation of the fire is increasing, so we immediately contacted units from various posts in Bandung Regency," said Irianto.

3. Experiencing Water Challenges in the Extinguishing Process

In the effort to extinguish the raging fire that engulfed the factory, the fire brigade was forced to face various intimidating challenges. The factory materials that are highly flammable, such as thinner and glue, actually accelerated the spread of the fire, making it even more difficult to extinguish with regular water.

Moreover, the lack of functioning hydrants around the location forced the officers to travel long distances to find a water source, which certainly slowed down the extinguishing process.

The strong winds blowing also added to the difficulties, with their fierce gusts causing the fire to spread rapidly, forcing the officers to struggle hard to prevent the fire from spreading to other buildings.

"The hydrants are not working here. We have to go quite far to find a water source," said one officer with a challenging tone.

4. Fire Successfully Extinguished After 13 Hours

After a grueling struggle lasting nearly 13 hours, the fire that engulfed the area was finally extinguished on Friday, January 31, 2025, at around 05:36 AM WIB. Firefighters worked tirelessly, although some of them suffered minor injuries from shards of glass and debris, and some even sustained minor burns due to the extreme temperatures at the site.

The cooling process was immediately undertaken to ensure that no hotspots remained and to prevent a rekindling of the fire. Meanwhile, the police began investigating the cause of the fire.

"We have prepared ambulances and a health team as a precautionary measure, although until now there have been no reports of injuries or fatalities," said one of the officers.

5. The Cause of the Fire is Still Under Investigation

Until now, the police are still delving into the mystery behind the fire that struck three textile factories in the Margaasih area of Bandung. When the firefighting team arrived, the fire was raging fiercely, so their main focus was to extinguish the flames completely.

Initial suspicions suggest that the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit or a chemical reaction from within the factory, but authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the exact cause.

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of implementing better fire protection systems in industrial environments, considering that the non-functioning hydrants around the factory were one of the factors that prolonged the duration of the fire.

Hope is now directed towards further evaluations to prevent similar incidents in the future, as stated by the police, "When the officers arrived, the fire had already grown, so further investigations will be conducted."

6. What caused the fire at three textile factories in Margaasih, Bandung?

The cause of the fire that engulfed the area remains a mystery and is currently under investigation by the authorities. When the officers arrived at the scene, the fire was raging fiercely, so their main priority was to extinguish the increasingly growing flames.

7. How long did the firefighting process take?

After nearly 13 hours battling the blaze, the firefighting team finally managed to conquer the raging fire that had been out of control since Thursday evening, January 30, 2025. With tireless efforts, they completely extinguished the fire on Friday morning, January 31, 2025, precisely at around 05:36 WIB, ending a dramatic struggle that drained their energy and emotions.

8. Were there any casualties in this fire incident?

Although this incident did not claim any lives, several firefighters suffered minor injuries due to shards of glass and debris scattered around.

9. What challenges did the officers face during the firefighting process?

Firefighters faced significant challenges while trying to control the blaze that engulfed the factory. Flammable materials such as glue, thinner, plastic, fabric, and thread seemed to be allies of the fire, accelerating its spread. Additionally, the lack of water sources around the location—especially due to the absence of functioning hydrants—and strong winds that caused the fire to spread to other buildings further complicated the situation.

10. Which factories were burned in this incident?

Three factories that fell victim to the fire are PT Lakistar, which produces accessories, PT Aneka Lem, known for its glue products, and PT Abadi Prima, which processes fabric. They now stand as mute witnesses to the incident that shook the industry.

(kpl/srr)