Fire prevention
Days after 52 people lost their lives in a July 2002 fire that razed a nightclub in Palembang, South Sumatra, journalists in Jakarta began interviewing officials about the danger of fires in public places, including night entertainment establishments.
The conclusion that could be drawn from the reports was that many public buildings lack the necessary safety systems. "Many buildings here do not have fire safety systems as required by the City Fire Agency." According to the chief of the operations division of the Jakarta Fire Agency, Ishak Sulaiman, that is mainly due to their owners' deliberate disobedience.
The Association of Nightspot Owners also admitted that many entertainment centers were neglecting the fire safety regulations. Public debate and media reports on the danger of fires were largely ignored, for example, until a massive fire destroyed the Tanah Abang textile market in February 2003.
No fatalities were reported, but the fire inflicted billions of rupiah in losses. As could have been predicted, officials belatedly made various statements about the need for having fire safety systems installed.
While comments on fire safety systems in public places, including markets, are appropriate, it was revealed that an electric short-circuit was believed to have led to the Tanah Abang inferno. City-owned markets operator PD Pasar Jaya was blamed for ignoring proper electrical installation and safety procedures.
A big question was also raised with the state electricity firm, PLN, which apparently had failed to check the market's wiring on a regular basis. Also, fire fighters found it difficult to find hydrants in proper working condition to get the water needed to extinguish the fire.
This year, a slew of large fires have destroyed a number of residential areas, leaving thousands of people homeless. The most recent examples were the fires in Kebon Melati and Sawah Besar, both in Central Jakarta.
Those examples reveal the extent of the poor awareness that exists about the danger of fire in the community, including businesspeople and government officials.
While nothing significant has so far been done to prevent fires, Governor Sutiyoso warned managers of entertainment centers earlier this month to comply with Bylaw No. 3/1992, on fire safety requirements.
The most recent data indicates that only 30 percent of a total of 612 entertainment centers -- bars, music clubs, karaoke halls and discotheques -- meet the compulsory fire safety standards as required by the administration.
According to the same bylaw, a building that is used as an entertainment center must be, among other things, accessible to fire trucks. The bylaw also states that the building and its premises must have at least one fire extinguisher for every 800 square meters of property, and that a building more than 14 meters tall must be equipped with a working ventilation system and, especially, an emergency exit.
Sutiyoso's move deserves support. However, it is imperative that the governor also take a good look inside his own quarters -- meaning that he must step up supervision of his subordinates before punishing the people who run entertainment centers.
He should acknowledge that some of the officers entrusted with checking up on nightspots may take bribes to ignore noncompliance. He should also be aware that many businesspeople apply for building permits for office buildings, shops or residences, but later use the buildings for other purposes, such as entertainment centers. Regular monitoring should therefore be carried out.
Further, a thorough investigation must be made as to why the owners of entertainment centers violate the regulations. The bylaw that calls for relatively light sanctions -- a maximum of Rp 5 million in fines -- may not be an effective deterrent.
Sutiyoso should also acknowledge that many hydrants in the capital do not work, and make sure that the hydrants are operational.
In short, simultaneous efforts must be made at all layers of the community, particularly within the city administration, to prevent more fires from ravaging the city.
Jakartans must be made aware that in 2004 alone 11 people have been killed in 364 fires that caused billions of rupiah in preventable material losses.