Fire blazes through Kebon Sirih

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Fire engulfed a house, a Toyota Astra car showroom and a restaurant on Jl. Kebon Sirih Barat in Central Jakarta on Monday.

No casualties were reported, the police said.

Witnesses said the fire started from a temporary barrack, where construction workers were living at a building site, at around 1:30 p.m.

The fire spread quickly from the barrack to a house owned by Edi Borot and the kitchen of nearby Sabang Jaya restaurant.

The fire also spread to the parking lot of Toyota Astra where several brand new cars were parked. The staff were unable to save five cars.

Not waiting for firefighters, local residents worked side by side to extinguish the fire with a mixture of water and mud they took from the gutter.

Four fire trucks arrived later at the scene, which was crowded with bystanders.

Firefighters put out the fire at about 2:30 p.m.

The fire caused traffic congestion as Jl. Wahid Hasyim was closed to facilitate access for the fire trucks.

The police have not revealed the cause of the fire or the losses caused.(004)