Keelung Waste Plant Mattress Fire Shows Diesel Traces, Arson Suspected

A temporary waste storage site operated by the Keelung City Environmental Protection Bureau, located next to the Tiantuantian Incinerator, recently caught fire, sending a massive pile of discarded box springs into a blaze with thick smoke billowing into the sky. Following preliminary fire scene inspections and related investigations, the Keelung City Government released an update on the latest developments today. The city government stated that inspections and on-site evidence collection by fire departments revealed the existence of two separate ignition points, spaced approximately 15 to 20 meters apart, along with diesel fuel stored in containers discovered at the scene. Based on this scientific forensic analysis and physical evidence, the city government reasonably suspects that the fire was not caused by natural factors or accidents alone, and that human intervention may be involved. Consequently, it has decided to formally request the Keelung District Prosecutors Office to conduct an in-depth investigation to clarify the truth.

The storage site affected by the fire is normally used to stack discarded box springs replaced from various sectors across Keelung City. According to city statistics, a total of 1,700 discarded box springs were piled at the location. Due to their complex internal structures—comprising metal springs alongside large amounts of flammable materials such as fabrics, foam, sponges, and wood—box springs can easily ignite upon contact with a heat source, rapidly burning and producing dense black smoke. The disposal of such bulky waste furniture has always been a thorny challenge for local government cleaning teams and environmental protection bureaus. Because of their large volume and limited disposal channels, they usually need to accumulate in certain quantities at storage sites before unified incineration or external transport arrangements can be made. This fire not only destroyed a large amount of waste but also exacerbated Keelung City's already strained capacity for the temporary storage and processing of bulky waste.

From the perspective of fire science and fire scene investigation, the number of ignition points and items left at the scene are often key clues in determining the cause of a fire. Natural combustion or electrical faults typically produce only a single ignition source, yet this fire scene featured two independent ignition points a short distance apart. Even more suspiciously, containers holding diesel fuel were left at the site. Diesel is a flammable liquid that rarely appears in specific locations at a discarded box spring storage yard without intentional human pouring or placement. These concrete objective pieces of evidence prevent fire investigation personnel and relevant city departments from ruling out the possibility of arson or other intentional sabotage. To ensure thoroughness and uncover the truth behind the scenes, the city government decided to transfer the entire case to judicial authorities, handing it over to the Keelung District Prosecutors Office for command and investigation.

The safety management and fire protection of bulky waste storage sites have long been crucial issues faced by environmental protection agencies across Taiwan. With increasing population density in urban areas and a rising frequency of citizens replacing large furniture, cleaning team storage sites in various regions are frequently saturated or even overloaded. Most of these storage sites are located in open areas or around incinerators; although they have large land areas, surrounding surveillance and management often harbor blind spots, becoming hidden dangers for public security and fire prevention. The fire at the Tiantuantian Incinerator storage site in Keelung not only caused severe air pollution, affecting the quality of life and health of nearby residents, but also highlighted that waste storage sites still have much room for comprehensive review and upgrading in safety protection, access control, and surveillance system installation.

As the Keelung City Government officially refers the case to the prosecutors office for investigation, police and prosecutorial investigative units will conduct a comprehensive screening and forensic analysis of the diesel containers, residual fingerprints, and DNA evidence collected from the scene, as well as surveillance footage from surrounding roads and the facility area. The focus of the investigation will be to clarify whether any suspicious individuals or vehicles entered or left the storage site on the eve of the fire and to trace the source of the diesel containers. For the citizens of Keelung, this suspected man-made fire has not only placed a burden on the environment but also sparked public concern over the safety of public facilities. The subsequent progress of the judicial investigation will help restore the full picture of the incident and provide the general public with a clear account regarding this waste storage site fire.