Fire ravages over 200 houses

Fire ravages over 200 houses

JAKARTA: Fire razed more than 200 houses in Kebon Tebu, Penjaringan, North Jakarta, early on Tuesday, but no fatalities were reported.

The fire, which broke out at about 3:30 a.m., originated from kerosene stove explosion, head of the neighborhood Mansyur N said. "The owner had obviously forgotten to turn off the stove."

Mansyur said 17 fire engines were deployed to the site but they found it difficult to extinguish the fire as the access road was packed with panic-stricken locals.

Chief of Penjaringan Police Comr. Krisna Mukti confirmed that the fire was caused by a resident's carelessness in not putting out a kerosene stove after cooking.

"We are looking for the stove owner," Mukti said.

Although fires started accidentally have frequently destroyed slum areas in Penjaringan district, this incident has apparently caused speculation that arson may have been involved.

Krisna said that arson was unlikely. "But we will nonetheless look into the possibility." --Antara