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.