Cost of fires Rp 16b since January

Cost of fires Rp 16b since January

JAKARTA (JP): A fire department official said on Wednesday
that the city had lost Rp 16 billion (US$2.13 million) in 91
cases of fire over the past two months.

"Most of the fires razed either houses or shophouses,"
spokesman for the City Fire Department Johnny Pangaribuan said on
the sidelines of a ceremony to commemorate the department's 81st
anniversary at its training center in Ciracas, East Jakarta.

Data at the department shows the city suffered a total loss of
Rp 54 billion in 1999 and Rp 100.54 billion in 1998.

Johnny said there were 2,451 employees in the department, 70
percent of which were firefighters and the remaining 30 percent
were administrative staffers.

"Some 56 employees will retire this year. We'll then absorb
employees from Jakarta offices of several liquidated ministries,"
he said.

Governor Sutiyoso said the city saw a monthly average of 70
fire incidents over the past five years, making it important for
the fire department to always improve its firefighters' skills.

"The firefighters can improve their knowledge and skills by
participating in numerous courses and seminars," he said in his
address.

"Although the city administration has limited financial
problems, we plan to form a rapid response team in the 2000
fiscal year," he said.

"The rapid response team is needed to overcome congested
traffic and narrow streets," he added.

The governor welcomed the private sector's participation,
which donated fire trucks to the department or had their own fire
brigades.

"In other countries, voluntary fire brigades have become an
important element in fire prevention," he said.

"City residents should take an example from such voluntary
brigades."

Sutiyoso pointed to the fact that many tall buildings in the
city had insufficient fire prevention equipment.

"This is because of a lack of supervision, the owners' minimal
awareness and insufficient regulations," he said, while lauding
the two latest regulations issued by State Ministry of Public
Works. One is on Urban Fire Management, the other on Technical
Procedures on Building and Environment Fire Handling.

He invited training centers from other cities and provinces to
send their firefighters here for training.

The fire department was established following the great fire
in the Kwitang area in 1913. It wasn't until March 1, 1919 when
the Burgermeester (mayor) of Batavia (old name for Jakarta) Mr.
Gerardus Johannes Bisshop instructed the establishment of
Brandweer Batavia, or the Batavia Fire Department.

The department was based in Gambir, Central Jakarta, with Lt.
Col. Deweis as its first chief. Later in 1922, the headquarters
was moved to Jl. Ketapang, Central Jakarta.

During the Japanese occupation, the department's name was
changed to Soobootai. After Indonesia gained its independence in
August 1945, the name was changed to Barisan Pemadam Kebakaran,
then Dinas Pemadam Kebakaran before it had its current name Dinas
Kebakaran. (nvn)