Agency says it keeps close eye on fire traps<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Despite a handful of high-profile slum fires in recent weeks, the
\nJakarta fire agency's education campaign in recent years has led
\nto a significant decline in the overall number of blazes.<\/p>\n
City fire agency deputy head Martono said Monday that his
\noffice would continue disseminating information about possible
\ncauses of fires and how to prevent them.<\/p>\n
"We have talked to people in fire-prone areas about what may
\nspark fire in their neighborhoods and how to prevent them from
\ntaking place. We have also distributed fire extinguishers to
\nthem," he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He did not say how many fire extinguishers had been given to
\nresidents in slum areas.<\/p>\n
Martono said that special attention was given to slum areas
\nsuch as those in Penjaringan and Penjagalan in North Jakarta,
\nTambora in West Jakarta, Kebon Kacang and Kebon Melati in Central
\nJakarta, as well as several other areas in East and South
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
According to data issued by the agency, the number of fires in
\nthe capital has decreased in the last six months to around 310
\ncases from around 407 cases over the same period last year.<\/p>\n
Martono said fires had been continually decreasing from 854 in
\n2003 to 760 in 2004 and possibly to around 600 this year.<\/p>\n
"We only have had around 300 in the first semester while we
\nhad around 400 in the first semester last year. So, we believe
\nthat less fire incidents will occur this year," he said.<\/p>\n
Martono added that previous surveys by the fire agency showed
\nthat over 60 percent of fires were caused by electric short
\ncircuits.<\/p>\n
He said that his office's review revealed that the decreasing
\nnumber of fires was partly caused by an increase in awareness
\namong Jakarta's residents about how to prevent fires from taking
\nplace.<\/p>\n
"Since they are aware that fires are mostly caused by short
\ncircuits, households are now very careful when adding sockets or
\nline extensions to their existing electricity installation,"
\nMartono said.<\/p>\n
He said that formerly, most residents did not care and just
\nadded as many additional sockets as they wanted.<\/p>\n
Police have also confirmed that several recent fires -- near
\nJl. Jaksa in Central Jakarta; in Sawangan, Depok; and in
\nPamulang, Tangerang -- all were caused by short circuits.<\/p>\n
The decreasing number of fires reported also means that many
\nsmall fires could be handled by residents before becoming bigger,
\na did not require a call to the fire station.<\/p>\n
"Because they know how to handle fire themselves, they don't
\nhave to call us. We don't record fires if we are not involved in
\nextinguishing them," Martono said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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