Spate of fires affects capital<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
There are still several weeks of dry weather ahead before the
\nfirst rains return here, and one result of this is tinder box-
\nlike conditions in the city and a rash of devastating fires in
\nthe last few weeks, including three on Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n
The three most recent incidents early on Tuesday kept fire
\nfighters busy, and in some cases injured.<\/p>\n
At least 23 fire trucks and support vehicles from the Jakarta
\nfire department and East Jakarta depot were used to extinguish
\nthe fire that gutted dozens of houses in the densely populated
\narea off of Jl. Kalibaru III in Senen, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The fire caused panic among the traders at Poncol market,
\nwhich is located close to Kalibaru, as they scrambled to save
\ntheir merchandise.<\/p>\n
Fireman Sudiono said there were no fatalities, while the
\npolice were still investigating the cause of the fire and the
\namount of losses incurred.<\/p>\n
In addition, according to residents, two men were arrested for
\nalleged looting, while an accomplice managed to flee the scene.<\/p>\n
Sukma, a resident of Kalibaru, said that the fire started at
\nabout 11:50 p.m. in a vacant house.<\/p>\n
Separately, three fire trucks from the West Jakarta depot
\nmanaged to put out a fire that damaged a housewares shop on Jl.
\nAsem in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta, at about 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Kebun Jeruk police suspected an electricity short circuit
\ncaused the fire.<\/p>\n
Four fire fighters had to be treated for burn wounds incurred
\nwhile extinguishing another fire in a chemical store on Jl. Angke
\nRaya Wijayakusuma in West Jakarta, late on Monday.<\/p>\n
A subsequent explosion of a chemical substance burned the
\nfour, identified as Wirawan, Hasanuddin, Andi and Ari.<\/p>\n
The case is still being investigated by the Tanjung Duren
\npolice.<\/p>\n
According to the city fire department, there were 390 reports
\nof fires between January and July this year.<\/p>\n
Major fire cases in Jakarta this month also occurred on Aug.
\n15, which left 1,500 residents of Cakung in East Jakarta
\nhomeless, and on Aug. 16, several hundred Petamburan residents in
\nCentral Jakarta watched their homes burn to the ground.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/spate-of-fires-affects-capital-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}