Fire at Jaya Konstruksi angers local residents

JAKARTA (JP): The Cipinang, East Jakarta, residents who lived near the storehouse of PT Jaya Konstruksi said they would file complaints against the construction company over Saturday's blaze at the company saying that it endanger their premises.

"We will file protests with the company," said Tanto, chief of a sub-neighborhood in Cipinang Besar Selatan subdistrict, Cipinang, East Jakarta.

A three-hour fire on Saturday burned hundreds of disposed fiber-glass-made containers at the landfill storehouse of the joint-venture company, which is partly owned by the city administration.

The fire, fanned by the strong winds, almost spread to the nearby residents' premises which were separated only by a line of zinc fences. Some area residents desperately took their goods out of their homes for safety.

Sgt. Susanto, a military officer in charge of security in the subdistrict, said the fire broke out after Effendi, 37, a cleaning service worker of the company, burned the dried grass he had collected along with two friends, Suganda, 27, and Eman, 27. "The three were shocked to find that the fire had grown bigger when they returned from the toilet," said Susanto.

The East Jakarta fire department deployed a nine-strong fire engine to put out the fire.

Police have put the three workers in custody for questioning. (jsk)