Fire department, so important yet neglected

Fire department, so important yet neglected

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The increasing number of fires across the capital and the lack of
fire hydrants has apparently not stayed the hand of the Jakarta
administration in cutting the budget for the Jakarta Fire
Department.

The administration has proposed slashing its 2003 fire
prevention and fire fighting budget from Rp 201.511 billion
(US$24 million) to Rp 184.33 billion.

The cut has been proposed in the budget revision, which is
currently being discussed between the administration and City
Council.

City Council Commission A for administrative and legal affairs
criticized the administration's lack of commitment in improving
and developing the fire department.

Commission A spokesman Mardjuan Bakri said the administration
must seriously improve both facilities and human resources in the
department.

"The administration's zero growth policy in accepting new
employees and poor facilities could backfire upon the
department's performance," he said, reading his commission's view
on the budget revision at the Council's plenary session.

"It's very ironic that the administration has even proposed a
budget cut for a department as vital as the fire department," he
said.

Although City Fire Department chief Johnny Pangaribuan was
unavailable to comment on the issue, he had earlier said that his
department lacked the facilities and equipment needed to prevent
and combat fires.

The latest data showed that for a city of 600,000 hectares
with 53 of 267 subdistricts prone to fires, Jakarta has only 900
fire hydrants, far from the ideal of 20,000.

Johnny also said the fire department lacked adequate human
resources, with few young recruits joining up, and that 95
percent of its 2,520 firefighters were over 45 years of age: 65
percent are over 55, 35 percent are over 50 and only 5 percent
are below 45.

Firefighters have warned of a possible increase in fires
across the capital, as 500 separate fires had already broken out
in the first half of 2003, compared to last year's total of 800
fires.

Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo told the press at City Hall on
Thursday that the budget for the fire department had to be cut,
due to its inability to implement those programs jointly selected
by the administration and the Council.

The fire department apparently failed to purchase two Snorkle
ladder trucks worth Rp 15.35 billion, and also returned Rp 1.82
billion originally allocated for employees' expenses.

"I only know that the main reason is because the fire
department could not use their budget. However, I can't provide
details. It's better to ask Pak Johnny Pangaribuan," he said.