Fire in Jakarta becomes an everyday event in dry season
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Although she and her family live in a nice housing complex in Tebet, South Jakarta, Hartini, 37, cannot help thinking that her house will be the next building to be destroyed by fire.
"It's crazy. I read or watch the news about fires almost every day. Previously, I thought that fires could only raze slum areas, but now I am worried that houses in a complex like ours can also be consumed by fire," she told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
Now, Hartini never leaves the house or goes to sleep before twice checking the electricity connections and her gas stove.
"Maybe I've become paranoid ... It seems that everything you have will be gone the second the fire attacks you and nobody will be able to help, not even the firemen."
Hartini is a Jakartan who lives with the thought that no buildings in the capital are immune to fire, especially after a series of fire incidents over the past several weeks.
The latest was on Sunday morning when fire razed a plastic- ware factory and several other houses nearby in a densely populated area in Cengkareng, West Jakarta.
On Friday, six houses in Karet Tengsin, Central Jakarta, were burned down.
Two previous larger fires, however, have claimed several lives and destroyed hundreds of buildings.
Last Monday, fire engulfed a Blok M market, destroying over 1,000 kiosks and killing a firefighter.
The fire also displaced 1,500 traders and inflicted economic losses of at least Rp 750 billion (US$75 million).
The most tragic fire incident occurred on Aug. 10 in Jelambar, West Jakarta when nine family members died in a house fire.
Jakarta fire agency deputy head Martono said that usually the number of fire incidents increased from July to September, when the dry season begins.
"Up to this month, we recorded 460 fires in Jakarta, while last year the total number of fire incidents was 803. Most fires are caused by short circuits or stove explosions," he told the Post.
Martono said that at least 40 fires had occurred in August alone while six fire incidents occurred in the first three days of this month.
He admitted that firemen had difficulties in handling fires as they often could not find a water source close to the blazes that could be used to extinguish the fire, partly because of the dry season and partly due to malfunctioning hydrants.
"Many hydrants have no water or are malfunctioning while rivers or gutters are dry during the last two months. That's why we have difficulties in putting out fires," he said.
Martono called on residents to take an extra minute to check that their power connections were on standby or off, and that their stoves were switched off before leaving their house or going to bed.