27 homes destroyed in Krendang, West Jakarta fire

JAKARTA — Twenty-seven homes were destroyed in a fire along Jalan Krendang Barat in Krendang, Tambora subdistrict, West Jakarta, on the evening of Thursday 28 May.

“The affected properties were 27 residential homes,” said Syaiful Kahfi, Head of the Operations Section for the West Jakarta Fire and Rescue Department (Gulkarmat), when questioned in Jakarta on Friday.

As a result of the fire, 113 households comprising 250 people were displaced after their homes were completely destroyed. Hundreds sought refuge in mosques and government-provided tents.

Fortunately, there were no casualties or injuries reported.

Syaiful said the department received the fire report at 7:47 PM WIB after residents spotted flames from one of the houses. Residents then went to the Krendang post to request assistance from officials. The department immediately deployed fire engines and personnel.

“Twenty-one fire engines and 105 personnel were deployed to extinguish the flames,” Syaiful added.

Meanwhile, the fire that destroyed dozens of homes is suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit in a rented house. “Preliminary cause suspected to be an electrical short circuit,” he said.

At the scene at 4:00 PM WIB, fire victims had already moved to evacuation sites. Some were sifting through the rubble to salvage unburned belongings. Several burnt items, including water pumps and other metal materials, were removed from the site.