Fire at Binus Anggrek Campus in West Jakarta Under Control as Crews Continue to Extinguish Remaining Embers
A fire at the Anggrek Campus of Binus University in the Kemanggisan, Palmerah area of West Jakarta, on Friday morning (May 22) is now in the overhaul phase. Firefighters have confirmed that the fire in the auditorium on the fifth floor has been brought under control, though small embers remain at several points.
Head of Operations at the West Jakarta Fire and Rescue Sub-Department (Gulkarmat), Syaiful Kahfi, said cooling down had finished and crews are now focusing on ensuring no hidden hot spots remain.
“The situation is now in overhaul, so we are sweeping through the burned area in the auditorium. Cooling has passed; only overhaul remains, with some small embers still to extinguish,” he said at Binus Anggrek Campus, Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta, on Friday (May 22).
He added the fire was reported around 05:30 WIB. In response, the fire department deployed 12 fire engines and around 60 personnel to the scene.
“According to Syaiful, the fire occurred in the auditorium on the fifth floor of the campus building. When crews arrived, the area was filled with thick smoke, hindering search for the source of the fire.”
“Upon arrival, the building on the fifth floor was already engulfed in dense smoke. They had to enter using breathing apparatus before extinguishing and locating fire points,” he explained.
“He said locating the fire was difficult due to dense smoke. Crews dismantled portions of the ceiling extending to the corridors to ensure the fire had not spread to other areas.”
“We have dismantled the ceiling sections as far as the corridor. There are no large hotspots left; perhaps only small embers remain,” he noted.
“To date, the cause of the fire is not known. Syaiful said investigators cannot determine the origin yet because the initial scene was filled with thick smoke.”
“Not yet, because when we arrived, the fifth floor was already thick with smoke,” he said. (H-2)
“Head of Operations, Sudin Gulkarmat Jakarta Barat, Syaiful Kahfi, said they cannot yet determine the source of the fire that sparked the incident.”