City needs to enforce bylaw on fire prevention
City needs to enforce bylaw on fire prevention
P.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Fire has destroyed hundreds of houses across the city during the
current wet season, mostly at night, raising concerns over just
how safe our homes are.
A housewife, Prima, 32, who lives in a housing complex in
Tangerang admitted that a recent fire -- that took place in a
housing estate and killed the occupants -- had alarmed her.
"Although our house and belongings are insured, my husband and
I could not help worrying. We decided to remove any wooden or
inflammable materials from our children's rooms and to make sure
that our maids knew how to use the fire extinguishers."
She further asked whether there was a regulation requiring
real estate developers to provide fire prevention facilities or
to adhere to fire-safety standards in construction.
Secretary-general of the Indonesian Real Estate Association
(REI), Iwan Bachri, said in a recent interview with The Jakarta
Post that he has was not aware of a city bylaw that required
developers to place a hydrant every 200 meters within housing
complexes -- as stipulated in Bylaw No. 3/1992 on fire
prevention.
"I don't know if there are any bylaws that specify that
requirement, if there is one I haven't read it."
According to Iwan, housing complexes are usually built near a
river, which fire trucks could use to pump up water in case of
fire.
He mentioned the housing estates in Pondok Indah and Kemang
Pratama in South Jakarta as examples.
Meanwhile, Indra Bramono, the general affairs manager of the
PT Mandara Permai Pantai Indah Kapuk, argued that only big
developers -- that manage more than 200 hectares of land -- are
required to install hydrants in a housing complex.
Indra, who is also a member of the infrastructure and
environment department in REI, added that the small developers
usually depend on the city administration to provide them with
hydrants.
"In Pantai Indah Kapuk real estate, we have installed hydrants
along the main road and at strategic locations," said Indra. By
strategic locations, he meant that the locations could be easily
accessed by fire trucks.
Data shows that while Jakarta, a city of 65,000 hectares, has
53 subdistricts out of a total of 267 prone to fire, it is only
equipped with 900 fire hydrants, far from the ideal number of
20,000.
The fire department has warned that more fires may take place
in the city this year. Up the end of June 2003, a total of 566
fires had already occurred, compared to a total of 837 fires for
2002. Short circuits and exploding kerosene stoves are the most
frequent causes of fire in residential areas.
President director of state housing developer Perum Perumnas,
Latief Malangyudo, told the Post that the company has planned an
integrated insurance program for potential buyers which will be
launched this year.
However, he said, the insurance scheme, which would be a
total-loss policy in case of fire, would automatically increase
the price of the houses.
"This plan is meant for the good of home owners, and we don't
want consumers screaming about the price later on," said Latief,
adding the company still needed more time on the scheme
deliberation.
According to Latief, the developer has installed several
hydrants at each of its housing areas.
"We have also widened the complexes' roads from two meters to
four, so in case of fire, the entrance could be accessed by fire
trucks," he said.
Article 3 of Bylaw No. 3/1992 on fire prevention stipulates:
1. A housing compound or buildings should be designed to
facilitate access for fire trucks.
2. A housing compound should be equipped with hydrants or
artesian wells, a water reservoir, or ponds, while buildings
located 100 meters from the main road should have their own
hydrants.
3. A housing compound should be equipped with an accessible
public telephone.