Water-bombing helicopter deployed to douse Rasau Jaya landfill fire
The air operation, used since the Aug. 5 blaze, targets fire pockets unreachable by ground crews and cuts smoke drifting into homes.
BNPB and local authorities deployed a water-bombing helicopter to extinguish a fire at the Rasau Jaya landfill in Kubu Raya regency, West Kalimantan. The aerial operation was carried out on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, after flames had burned part of the landfill since Aug. 5. A Sikorsky UH-60L helicopter registered VH-L6T was used to speed up containment, especially at points that were difficult to reach from the ground. Firefighting is being carried out in an integrated way with ground personnel and air support to prevent the blaze from spreading. BNPB said the move is also aimed at minimizing the impact of smoke on residents near the site.