City to buy extinguishers for fire-prone subdistricts<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto and Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Two major fires in the city in the last two weeks, which left
\nmore than 2,500 people homeless, have prompted Governor Sutiyoso
\nto press ahead with his plan to equip each subdistrict with
\nindustrial fire extinguishers.<\/p>\n
\"I will propose the procurement of industrial extinguishers in
\nthe 2004 revised city budget,\" he said.<\/p>\n
With 53 of 267 subdistricts \"prone to fires\", the Jakarta Fire
\nDepartment has revealed its plan to purchase 10,000 more
\nindustrial extinguishers within a five-year period to minimize
\nfires in the city, which has an area of 661.52 square kilometers.
\nCurrently, there are 6,000 industrial extinguishers among 55
\nsubdistricts.<\/p>\n
Each 70-kilogram industrial extinguisher is priced at Rp 30
\nmillion (US$3,333), while the bigger capacity extinguishers weigh
\n140 kilograms and are worth Rp 40 million.<\/p>\n
Fire department data shows that 364 fires were reported this
\nyear, as of last Friday, in which 11 people were killed and 28
\nothers injured.<\/p>\n
The number of fires reported in the city has increased in the
\nlast three years, with 854 cases last year, 837 cases in 2002 and
\n729 cases in 2001.<\/p>\n
The main causes of the fires have been listed as short
\ncircuits and exploding kerosene stoves.<\/p>\n
The latest incident took place on Sunday morning in Karang
\nAnyar, Sawah Besar district, Central Jakarta, when 388 houses --
\nwhich 623 families had occupied -- burned down. Two people were
\nkilled in the fire.<\/p>\n
The area can only be accessed via a one-meter-wide alley,
\nwhich had made it difficult for the firefighters to reach the
\nfire, although 26 trucks were deployed.<\/p>\n
No official statement was released on the cause of the fire,
\nbut witnesses say that an exploding stove caused it.<\/p>\n
Earlier, on July 14, more than 1,100 people lost their homes
\nin a fire in Kebon Melati subdistrict, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
On Monday, hundreds of fire victims in Karang Anyar started to
\nclear debris from their burned homes, which they insisted they
\nwould immediately rebuild. They said no other location was
\nsuitable as their houses were close to their workplaces.<\/p>\n
The residents also said that they had obtained land ownership
\ncertificates for their properties.<\/p>\n
\"I will rebuild my house when I have enough money,\" said Aca
\nSuganda, a mechanic, who has been living in the area for 25
\nyears.<\/p>\n
Currently, most of them are taking shelter in plastic tents.<\/p>\n
\"I will sleep here tonight with my eldest son. My wife and two
\nother children will sleep at the subdistrict office,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A public kitchen was established at the subdistrict office to
\nprovide meals for the victims. Donors, including from the city
\nsocial agency and the Indonesian Red Cross, have distributed
\nrice, instant noodles and clothes.<\/p>\n
\"For the time being we are OK, we have sacks of rice and other
\nfood,\" said Fauzi, Karang Anyar subdistrict chief.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/city-to-buy-extinguishers-for-fire-prone-subdistricts-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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