Arsenal catches fire, one injured<\/p>\n
Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar<\/p>\n
A fire broke out in an arsenal belonging to South Sulawesi
\nProvincial Police in Batua area here on Friday, but no fatalities
\nwere reported.<\/p>\n
The fire, which began at 10 a.m., was localized and put out
\nimmediately before it could spread. None of the guns, rifles or
\nammunition stored in the arsenal were affected.<\/p>\n
The only victim of the fire was a civilian working at the
\nBatuan Police School, Laode, who suffered minor burns to his
\nright hand.<\/p>\n
Some witnesses said that they heard a blast before the fire,
\nwhich most likely originated from an old septic tank in the
\narsenal compound. The blast was believed to then spark a fire,
\nwhich later burned six motorcycles parked next to the arsenal.
\nThe fire also burned the wall and roof of the building. The fire
\nwas quickly put out after seven fire trucks were dispatched to
\nthe scene.<\/p>\n
According to Laode, he was moving motorcycles into a warehouse
\nnext to the arsenal when the blast occurred. He was moving 76
\nmotorcycles into the warehouse.<\/p>\n
\"When I moved the 23rd motorcycle, suddenly I heard the blast.
\nFire quickly spread and burned several motorcycles and also my
\nhand,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Chief of South Sulawesi Provincial Police Insp. Gen. Saleh
\nSaaf quickly arrived at the location following the fire.<\/p>\n
He said that the blast might have originated from an unused
\nseptic tank, now used as a rubbish dump where people dump items
\nthat could explode such as cans of hair spray and perfume.<\/p>\n
\"The septic tank would produce ammonia and it was hot, which
\nmay have led to the explosion,\" he said, adding that this was
\nonly speculation and would have to be confirmed later by his
\nsubordinates, who are investigating the case.<\/p>\n
Saleh said that the Batua arsenal was not the only police
\narsenal in South Sulawesi province.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/arsenal-catches-fire-one-injured-1447893297",
"image": ""
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