Gudang Pengolahan Sabut Kelapa di Banyuwangi Hangus Akibat Puntung Rokok

Suara Pecari – 14 April 2026 | Fire broke out Monday night at a coconut fiber processing warehouse in Sraten, Cluring district, Banyuwangi. The blaze was reported around 20.30 WIB.

The ignition point was a pile of dried coconut husks stored near the facility’s entrance on Jalan Hasanudin. Witnesses suspect a discarded cigarette butt triggered the fire.

Upon receiving the call, the Banyuwangi Fire and Rescue Department dispatched eight personnel from the Srono, Genteng, and Redkar sectors. Teams arrived while flames were still licking the interior of the husk stack.

According to rescue officer Salam Bikwanto, the crew had to dismantle the tightly packed husks to reach the core of the fire. Coconut fibers retain heat, allowing embers to survive deep inside the pile.

Firefighters applied intensive water streams and sprayed foam to suppress the flames. Simultaneously, they manually separated the husks to prevent re‑ignition.

The operation succeeded in extinguishing visible fire by 22.01 WIB. Two water‑supply trucks from Srono and Genteng sectors supported the effort.

After the blaze was out, crews continued cooling the area and conducting a thorough check until 22.38 WIB. No hotspots were detected during the final inspection.

The damaged material comprised a 15‑by‑10‑meter heap of coconut husks. The heat also compromised parts of the roof, which was constructed from wood and asbestos panels.

Preliminary investigations point to a cigarette butt landing on the husk pile as the most likely cause. The small spark rapidly escalated due to the flammable nature of the fibers.

Salam Bikwanto emphasized that the fire could have spread to adjacent structures if not contained quickly. Prompt response prevented larger losses in the surrounding area.

Fortunately, there were no injuries or fatalities among workers or nearby residents. The incident did not trigger any evacuation orders.

The owner of UD Sumber Kelapa, a small‑scale enterprise, reported that the incident halted production for the day. Financial losses are still being assessed.

Local authorities plan to conduct a safety audit of similar storage practices in the region. They aim to reduce the risk of accidental fires in agricultural processing sites.

The fire highlights the vulnerability of dry agricultural residues to ignition sources. Coconut husk, like other biomass, can generate high temperatures when burning.

Fire safety experts recommend separating combustible piles from potential ignition points such as smoking areas. Regular cleaning and designated disposal bins for cigarette waste are advised.

The Banyuwangi fire department will increase community outreach on fire prevention. Educational sessions will target workers in the agro‑industrial sector.

In addition to the warehouse, a small portion of the adjacent building’s roof collapsed due to heat damage. The structure will be inspected before reconstruction.

The incident occurred during a period of heightened fire risk across Indonesia, driven by dry weather conditions. Authorities have issued alerts urging caution.

Residents of Sraten expressed relief that the fire was contained swiftly. They praised the coordination among multiple fire units.

The incident serves as a reminder that simple negligence, such as careless smoking, can cause significant material loss. Enforcement of smoking bans in industrial zones may be strengthened.

As of now, the site remains under observation while cleanup operations proceed. Authorities will release a final report once the investigation concludes.

The episode underscores the importance of proactive fire safety measures in preventing similar disasters in Banyuwangi’s agricultural sector.