Office of police chief relocated after blaze<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman
\nAstrosemitro and a number of high-ranking officers have
\ntemporarily moved to other buildings after Monday's blaze at the
\nmain headquarters building.<\/p>\n
National Police Spokesman Brig. Gen. IK Ratta said here
\nyesterday that Banurusman might use a room at the nearby National
\nCentral Bureau Interpol office temporarily.<\/p>\n
\"We have prepared at least three alternative places, all close
\nto the main building, for the chief's temporary office,\" Ratta
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The unexpected move occurred because many of the offices were
\neither gutted or filled with debris.<\/p>\n
\"Forensic scientists and police detectives are still working
\nat the fire scene, collecting all material evidence available,\"
\nRatta said.<\/p>\n
The three-hour fire on Monday evening gutted at least 30
\noffices on the second and top floors of the three-story main
\nbuilding of the 44-year-old national police headquarters on Jl.
\nTrunojoyo in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"The office of the police chief on the first floor was
\nuntouched,\" said the spokesman. \"Only the office of his private
\nsecretary saw fire damage.\"<\/p>\n
Among the rooms on the top floor gutted by the blaze were the
\nplanning, budget division and inspectorate general offices, and a
\nmeeting room.<\/p>\n
The fire also gutted several rooms on the second floor,
\nincluding a meeting room and offices for staff of the operational
\ncontrol center division.<\/p>\n
Bundles of documents, other archive materials, several weapons
\nand ammunition were destroyed in the fire.<\/p>\n
Ratta said the cause of the fire is still unknown. \"Forensic
\nlaboratory examination is underway.\"<\/p>\n
\"Anything, such as an electrical short circuit, is possible,
\nbut I am sure we can rule out sabotage,\" he said without further
\nexplanation.<\/p>\n
The building is now cordoned of to prevent unauthorized people
\nfrom entering the area.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of police officers, whose offices were damaged, had
\nto work from other buildings, facing constraints imposed by the
\nloss of files, documents and stationery.<\/p>\n
The electricity has been off since yesterday, leaving most of
\nthe undamaged offices in the building dark and silent.<\/p>\n
\"But the vital communication system link with other regional
\nand international points still works,\" Ratta said. \"It was not
\nparalyzed as described by many media.\"<\/p>\n
Even if it failed, we're ready to utilize the communication
\nsystem at the City Police Headquarters, he said.<\/p>\n
Ratta said that the blaze started at around 4:30 p.m. in a
\nroom of the operational control center division on the third
\nfloor. The officers on duty there at the time could not contain
\nthe fire with the extinguisher there.<\/p>\n
\"The fire then quickly spread to the other rooms as the roof
\nand the floors were made of wood,\" the spokesman said.<\/p>\n
About 100 fire fighters with 20 fire engines went to the site
\nto put out the fire which raged on in the rain.<\/p>\n
The fire brigades found it difficult to get water as the
\nhydrants in the area did not have adequate pressure. The fire
\nbrigades who tried to get water from Blok M shops had to give up
\nwhen the shops' security guards prohibited them from doing so.
\nThe guards said permission from their superiors would be
\nrequired.<\/p>\n
There were no fatalities reported. The police have yet to
\nfinish calculating the losses, which could reach into the
\nbillions of rupiah.<\/p>\n
The building was constructed in 1952 and occupied two years
\nlater.<\/p>\n
\"This is the first time a fire has occurred at the building,\"
\nRatta said.<\/p>\n
Ratta said that the police headquarters will not be moved from
\nthe fire damaged site.<\/p>\n
\"I have no idea about the next steps to be taken about the
\nfire-stricken building, but there will be no land-barter
\nagreement,\" he said. \"The building, which is not insured, will
\nprobably be renovated.\"<\/p>\n
Banurusman filed an official report on the blaze with the
\nArmed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung yesterday, Ratta said.
\n (bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/office-of-police-chief-relocated-after-blaze-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}