Fire brigade says it has enough water for the current dry season
Fire brigade says it has enough water for the current dry season
JAKARTA (JP): The Municipal Fire Department gave assurances
yesterday that it has enough water to fight fires during the
current dry season.
Ponimin, head of the public relations office of the fire
department, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the fire engines
are ready to put out any possible fire since they are always
filled with four tons of water each.
"All of our units in the five mayoralties are equipped with
hydrants to fill up their cars," he said," Besides, every week we
check the 355 hydrants placed all over the city. So, if there is
a hydrant that does not work well, we can repair it and ask the
Municipal Water Company to fill it with water."
Ponimin added that his main concern is the northern Jakarta
area, which frequently lacks water and whose inhabitants rely
mostly on tap water.
"Therefore, we have asked the water company to divert their
water supply to our hydrants should a fire break out in the
area," he said.
Despite the decreasing water supply due to the dry season, the
fire department is not worried because it has also listed other
water sources in the five mayoralties, said Ponimin.
"Rivers and swimming pools may also be used as our water
sources," he said.
"We also check which rivers are dry, so that if there is a
fire in the areas they run through, we can look for water in
alternative sources such as swimming pools," he explained.
Each night, the fire department regularly inspects locations
prone to fire such as shopping centers, markets and slum areas.
Around 2,000 firefighters who work in three shifts are also
available round-the-clock.
To prevent fires, Ponimin suggested four strategies:
* Be careful when using kerosene stoves, clean them regularly
and do not fill them with oil when they are still burning. Do not
leave burning stoves unattended.
* Be careful when using electrical plugs. Do not put too many
plugs in one electrical socket. Do not change the broken fuse
with any wire. Do not leave any electrical goods plugged in.
* Call 113 if there is a fire. Do not panic, try to extinguish
the fire at the source first while waiting for help.
"Often the source is only a stove fire, but a house owner is
already panicked, so instead of putting out the fire, he moves
out his television set, mattress and any other household goods,"
Ponimin said.
Last year, there were 789 fires in the city which caused Rp
56.42 billion (US$26 million) in losses. The fires killed 17
people and injured 66 others. Most of the fires occurred in West
Jakarta. (als)