60 houses razed in police complex

JAKARTA: Fire razed at least 60 houses in the police housing complex in Palmerah subdistrict, West Jakarta, on Sunday.

The fire made 260 police officers and their families homeless.

Most of the families were out visiting Taman Safari Indonesia animal park in Puncak, Bogor.

"The fire started from the house of Sayogi ... The house was empty because the family went to their town in East Java for holiday," a witness, Hari, told The Jakarta Post.

The residents suspect a short circuit caused the fire, because an air conditioner had been left on.

One firefighter required medical treatment at a nearby public health center after he was hit by falling timbers while trying to douse the fire.

At least 18 fire trucks and support vehicles were deployed to extinguish the fire that started at about 11 a.m.

"It was the work of firefighters from West Jakarta, South Jakarta and Central Jakarta fire departments," West Jakarta fire platoon commander Mudjiman told the Post after putting the fire out at about 2 p.m.

Several mosques in the surrounding areas were preparing to shelter the fire victims. -- JP