Blazes reach record number, Jakarta Fire Department says

JAKARTA (JP): The number of fires recorded in the capital so far this year has already reached a new annual record of 1,186 cases, compared to a previous high of 1,082 fires in 1982.

"It's the highest record based on available data since the establishment of the Jakarta Fire Department in 1918," the office head, Suharso, told reporters Monday.

According to the data, this year's fires have so far killed 38 people, including 15 victims in Monday's fire in the Bank Indonesia tower.

The data reveals a rough estimation of Rp 90 billion (US$20 million) in financial losses in the 1997 fires, Suharso said.

Last year, the city recorded 721 fires, with 14 dead and 64 injured. Financial losses totaled Rp 49.5 billion.

According to Suharso, the significant increase in the number of fires recorded in the city this year was mostly sparked by the recent prolonged dry season, a lack of fire safety equipment in many buildings and a lack of fire safety awareness.

"We've learned that people in buildings, including the sophisticated skyscrapers, which are equipped with fire extinguishers do not know how to use them," he said.

Suharso said that this year's prolonged drought had dried up many rivers and water sources normally used by fire fighters in and around the capital, making it difficult for them to combat fires.

High temperatures associated with the dry season also led to many fires spreading, he said without mentioning the possible role of global warming.

His office also found that some high-rise buildings were not equipped with fire extinguishers or emergency doors.

Jakarta today is home to about 650 skyscrapers.

Suharso predicted that the number of fires would rise further in the next few years if the fire department failed to procure proper equipment and if the regulations requiring high-rise buildings to have fire safety equipment were not enforced.

For example, he said, the city only had one fire truck equipped with a 50-meter extension ladder.

"With skyscrapers being built more and more, we need much better equipment," he said.

Suharso said all firefighters were supposed to wear fireproof clothing, but in fact only one firefighter on each fire truck had been provided with this standard clothing. (ind)