Fire department, so important yet neglected<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The increasing number of fires across the capital and the lack of
\nfire hydrants has apparently not stayed the hand of the Jakarta
\nadministration in cutting the budget for the Jakarta Fire
\nDepartment.<\/p>\n
The administration has proposed slashing its 2003 fire
\nprevention and fire fighting budget from Rp 201.511 billion
\n(US$24 million) to Rp 184.33 billion.<\/p>\n
The cut has been proposed in the budget revision, which is
\ncurrently being discussed between the administration and City
\nCouncil.<\/p>\n
City Council Commission A for administrative and legal affairs
\ncriticized the administration's lack of commitment in improving
\nand developing the fire department.<\/p>\n
Commission A spokesman Mardjuan Bakri said the administration
\nmust seriously improve both facilities and human resources in the
\ndepartment.<\/p>\n
\"The administration's zero growth policy in accepting new
\nemployees and poor facilities could backfire upon the
\ndepartment's performance,\" he said, reading his commission's view
\non the budget revision at the Council's plenary session.<\/p>\n
\"It's very ironic that the administration has even proposed a
\nbudget cut for a department as vital as the fire department,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Although City Fire Department chief Johnny Pangaribuan was
\nunavailable to comment on the issue, he had earlier said that his
\ndepartment lacked the facilities and equipment needed to prevent
\nand combat fires.<\/p>\n
The latest data showed that for a city of 600,000 hectares
\nwith 53 of 267 subdistricts prone to fires, Jakarta has only 900
\nfire hydrants, far from the ideal of 20,000.<\/p>\n
Johnny also said the fire department lacked adequate human
\nresources, with few young recruits joining up, and that 95
\npercent of its 2,520 firefighters were over 45 years of age: 65
\npercent are over 55, 35 percent are over 50 and only 5 percent
\nare below 45.<\/p>\n
Firefighters have warned of a possible increase in fires
\nacross the capital, as 500 separate fires had already broken out
\nin the first half of 2003, compared to last year's total of 800
\nfires.<\/p>\n
Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo told the press at City Hall on
\nThursday that the budget for the fire department had to be cut,
\ndue to its inability to implement those programs jointly selected
\nby the administration and the Council.<\/p>\n
The fire department apparently failed to purchase two Snorkle
\nladder trucks worth Rp 15.35 billion, and also returned Rp 1.82
\nbillion originally allocated for employees' expenses.<\/p>\n
\"I only know that the main reason is because the fire
\ndepartment could not use their budget. However, I can't provide
\ndetails. It's better to ask Pak Johnny Pangaribuan,\" he said.<\/p>",
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