Fire destroys two shops in Pasar Pagi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Two shops were razed by fire at the Pasar Pagi
\nwholesale business center, West Jakarta, yesterday afternoon,
\nparalyzing business activity there for half the day.<\/p>\n
The fire reportedly started at around 3 p.m. in a toy shop
\nowned by PT Bina Alam Indonesia, on the second floor of the three
\nstory building on Jl. Petak Baru.<\/p>\n
\"From there, the fire spread in all directions,\" said Marsono,
\nchief of the West Jakarta fire department.<\/p>\n
The fire later spread to the adjacent PT Parahyangan textile
\nstore, throwing hundreds of store owners around the area into
\npanic. The area, known here as Pasar Pagi wholesale business
\ncenter, is one of the biggest wholesale markets in the city.<\/p>\n
Many traders closed their shops and desperately tried to save
\nvaluable items, fearing that fire would spread to other buildings
\nin the area.<\/p>\n
\"We were worried that fire engines would come late,\" said a
\nstore owner. He added that he was thankful that the blaze could
\nbe contained in a relatively short time because the firemen
\narrived on the scene quickly.<\/p>\n
The 11 engines, which arrived 15 minutes after the report of
\nthe blaze was received, successfully prevented the fire from
\nspreading to other stores in the area.<\/p>\n
\"The existence of two rivers nearby, River Asemka and River
\nAngke, was very helpful. We did not need to go a long way to get
\nwater,\" said a fire fighter.<\/p>\n
Tambora police chief Maj. Endang Sofyan M. told reporters he
\nhas put the owner of PT Bina Alam Indonesia, Leo Sumantri, in
\ncustody for investigation.<\/p>\n
\"So far the investigation has found that Leo did not, in fact,
\nown the premises but rented it to other people instead. However,
\nthe investigation needs at least two days before we discover the
\ncause of the fire,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Marsono said he thought the fire was caused by a short
\ncircuit.<\/p>\n
Police had yet to calculate the losses caused by the fire.
\n(jsk)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fire-destroys-two-shops-in-pasar-pagi-1447893297",
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