Volunteer firefighter program has failed: Chief<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The increasing number of fires in the city over the last three
\nyears, and lack of manpower, has prompted the Jakarta Fire
\nDepartment to launch various programs, including training 3,000
\nyouths from fire-prone subdistricts last year.<\/p>\n
However, the training of volunteers, grouped under the Fire
\nVolunteers Front (Balakar), was not fruitful, due to various
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
Fire department chief Johny Pangaribuan told The Jakarta Post
\non Tuesday that the volunteers had received training in basic
\nareas, including how to operate the industrial extinguishers that
\nhave already been distributed among 55 subdistricts.<\/p>\n
The volunteers are expected to share their newfound knowledge
\nwith other residents.<\/p>\n
Johnny said the program had failed largely because many of the
\ntrained youths had moved to other areas, or found jobs.<\/p>\n
\"We need to revise the program. For the time being, we will
\ntrain local residents,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"However, the key to the success of the program depends very
\nmuch upon the locals' participation in protecting their
\nsurroundings from fire. The extinguishers can only be used if the
\nfire does not spread.\"<\/p>\n
The fire department has being facing a chronic manpower
\nproblem, as most of the 2,520 active firefighters are over 45
\nyears old. The government, through its zero-growth policy, has
\nbanned the recruitment of additional civil servants, including
\nnew firefighters.
\n Currently, 69 percent of the active fire-fighting force are
\nover 45, meaning that 1,739 firemen will retire in the next five
\nto 10 years.<\/p>\n
Up to July 23, 364 fires have been reported this year, in
\nwhich 11 people were killed and 28 others injured. The number of
\nfires reported in the city has increased over the last three
\nyears, with 854 cases in 2003, 837 cases in 2002 and 729 cases in
\n2001.<\/p>\n
With 53 of its 257 subdistricts prone to fire, the city
\nadministration has distributed 6,640 fire extinguishers of
\nvarious sizes and 30 portable water pumps, and installed 600 fire
\nalarms, which are directly linked with fire stations and the
\ncentral fire department.<\/p>\n
The extinguishers and the alarms are located at the houses of
\ncommunity unit and neighborhood unit secretaries, while the
\nportable pumps are stored at subdistrict offices.<\/p>\n
The extinguishers are only intended for use prior to the
\narrival of firefighters at the scene, while the portable pumps
\nare only useful if there is a sufficient supply of water there.<\/p>\n
However, Johnny said, the equipment was not enough to overcome
\nfires in slum areas.<\/p>\n
He said the odds were against firefighters when they faced
\nconditions, such as: a densely populated area where houses were
\nmostly makeshift and made of highly flammable materials, the
\nwidespread use of kerosene stoves, the improper installation of
\nelectrical facilities, narrow access to slum areas and the lack
\nof water in some places.<\/p>\n
The two most recent major fires, in which at least two people
\ndied and 2,500 people were left homeless, occurred in Kebon
\nMelati and Sawah Besar, both in Central Jakarta. In both cases it
\ntook firefighters more than three hours to extinguish the fires.<\/p>",
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