Fire guts houses left by owners

Fire guts houses left by owners

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Dozens of empty houses on Jl. Kembangan Tiga, Kwitang, Central
Jakarta, caught fire on Tuesday evening while the owners were
celebrating the Idul Fitri holiday at their hometowns.

An oil lamp exploded and started the fire, which then quickly
set all homes nearby ablaze, Central Jakarta Police chief Adj.
Sr. Comr. Edmond Ilyas said on Wednesday.

Around 50 houses in the densely populated area were destroyed
by the fire.

The fire was extinguished in an hour-and-a-half after some 34
fire engines arrived.

"They (the residents) may be shocked when they return from
their holiday to find their homes ruined," Ilyas said.

Some residents stayed temporarily at the Senen subdistrict
office.

Fire also destroyed a two-story house belonging to Rahmat
Nasir in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, on Wednesday morning. The fire
was caused by an electrical short circuit. The rented house had
been left empty by the occupant, who was on leave.

Police also reported that dozens of empty huts belonging to
Warmat, 45, at Kampung Cikiwul, Bantar Gebang, Bekasi, were also
destroyed by fire.

Muhammad, 60, also lost his home to fire at Kampung Terep,
Pasar Kemis, Tangerang.

Around 20 homes on Jl. Gedong Panjang, Penjaringan, North
Jakarta, were also burned on Tuesday, while most of their
occupants were still celebrating Idul Fitri at their hometowns.

In Cipulir, South Jakarta, hundreds of people lost their homes
to a fire, which raged on Friday night. Police said that a short
circuit had started the fire, though this was refuted by a
resident who claimed it was caused by firecrackers thrown by
children.