Trans Home Sleman Fire Still Burning, Firefighters Suspect Active Source in Basement

The fire that engulfed the Trans Home building materials supermarket on Jalan Yogya-Solo, Berbah, Sleman, DIY, has shown no signs of being extinguished. On Friday (2/10) afternoon, firefighters suspected there was still an active hotspot in the building's basement area, indicated by thick black smoke that continued to billow until 11.33 WIB.

The Head of Operations and Investigation at the Sleman Satpol-PP Fire Department, Nawa Murtiyanto, assessed that the volume of smoke coming from inside the building indicated that combustion was still ongoing. "The smoke is still coming out heavily, which means there is still burning inside," he said at the scene. This suspicion reinforces the assumption that the source of the fire has not been successfully isolated since the first report was received on Thursday (1/10) at 12.00 WIB.

The firefighting operation is facing layered obstacles. In addition to the source of the fire not being definitively identified, teams in the field must contend with extreme room temperatures and smoke that obstructs visibility. Efforts to create entry routes through both normal and alternative paths were reported to have failed. "Attempts have been made, but we are still struggling. The smoke is still thick, the temperature is still high," said Nawa.

Standing water left over from the previous night's firefighting has added to the complexity. The water pooling in the basement not only hampers the movement of personnel but also has the potential to disrupt equipment. More concerning, the building structure has been exposed to high heat for nearly 24 hours. According to Nawa, this condition increases the safety risk if firefighting is forced. "The building structure has been heated for almost 24 hours, that is risky," he stressed.

"We are still pursuing the cause, where the source is, and what materials are burning. But the physical condition of personnel and equipment must also be taken into account because they are exhausted."

Beyond technical aspects, the Sleman Fire Department has begun to factor in the fatigue of human resources and equipment that have been deployed in a marathon since the first day. More than 30 combined personnel are on standby, but rotation and recovery pose their own challenges. Nawa admitted he could not yet predict when the total extinguishing could be completed. "We don't know yet, it hasn't been estimated. The facilities and infrastructure are tired, the personnel are also exhausted," he concluded.

The fire in the Berbah area has drawn attention because of its location on the main Yogyakarta-Solo route. Although there have been no reports of fatalities, the economic and mobility impact around the area could potentially be disrupted if the firefighting operation drags on. Trans Home is a building materials shopping center serving the Sleman area and its surroundings, so operational disruption could affect the supply of materials for local construction projects.

As of the publication of this news, the Fire Department team is still trying to penetrate the basement using various methods. The main focus at present is to find the exact hotspot and prevent its spread to other parts of the building. The worst-case scenario being anticipated is a structural collapse due to prolonged heat, which could force the operation to be halted for the safety of personnel. The public is waiting for certainty on when the fire will truly be out, as well as an evaluation of fire safety standards for commercial buildings in the densely active area.