Building gutted by fire

JAKARTA (JP): A fire gutted the premises of all three businesses in a two-story building on Jl. Kramat Pulo in Central Jakarta yesterday afternoon.

The fire started at 3:20 p.m. and was brought under control by fourteen fire engines from Central Jakarta Fire Department in one hour.

No fatalities were reported and the cost of the damage had not been estimated by yesterday evening.

The chief of the fire department, Ferdy Aling, believed the fire was caused by a short circuit.

All 12 people in the building escaped, Anwar, the building's owner, said.

The three gutted premises were a Padang restaurant, an advertising agency office and a printing shop.

Anwar said he was on the first floor of the building when occupants of the adjacent buildings told him that smoke was billowing from the top floor of the building. (ivy)