Fire razes 25 rattan furniture kiosks in East Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): A fire, believed to have been triggered by a short circuit on a nearby electricity pole, razed the entire complex of 25 kiosks selling rattan furniture on Jl. Raya Kalimalang, Pondok Bambu, East Jakarta, on Saturday.

One of the kiosk owners, Adi Bowo, said the fire started at about 11:30 a.m. when a strong wind ruffled the branches of a tree next to the pole.

"The branches shook the electricity wires and when two adjacent wires touched the fire started.

"The fire immediately burned one kiosk, but our merchandise, including the chemical that we use to manufacture the furniture, and a strong wind, accelerated the spreading of the fire to other kiosks in the area," Adi told reporters on Sunday.

A duty officer of the Duren Sawit Police, First Sgt. Prayogo, confirmed the incident on Sunday.

"The Duren Sawit Police is now handling the matter," he said.

Adi said five fire trucks arrived about half an hour after the fire started and managed to extinguish it at about 2 p.m.

"However, all the merchandise and kiosks in the 1,000-square- meter plot were burned," he said, while estimating a total loss of more than Rp 400 million (about US$54,000).

He said he had opened a kiosk in 1989 and that good business had enabled him to open two others, also in the area.

"Like many other owners in the area, I'll reestablish my kiosks," he said.

Earlier on Friday, the Hero Supermarket at Megaria shopping complex in Central Jakarta was partially damaged after a fire broke out on Friday at midnight.

No fatalities were reported and witnesses said the fire was caused by a short circuit.

Eyewitness E. Padja said the fire, which lasted until the early hours of Saturday, was first spotted from the supermarket warehouse at the rear of the building.

"I saw smoke coming from the supermarket and I soon realized that there was a fire," said the complex security guard.

He said at the time, the cinemas and a billiard center, also located on the complex, were still packed with people, but they quickly exited the buildings after they were alerted about the fire.

Sixteen fire engines along with dozens of fire fighters rushed to the scene but could not put the fire out for about three hours as they had difficulty reaching the burning warehouse.

The fire fighters had to spend extra time breaking the building's windows after cutting through an iron chain.

The fire did not spread to other buildings on the complex, of which one is a protected historical building.

None of Hero's management were available for comment.

Maj. Ricky F. Wakanno from Central Jakarta Police said the police were still investigating the cause of the fire.

"So far we think the fire was caused by an electrical short- circuit. But we are still looking for other possibilities," he said.

The fire, he said, started in an unguarded stockroom and then spread to the supermarket's ground floor.

"The loss is estimated to reach more than Rp 100 million (US$13,500)," he said, adding that most of the items destroyed were general merchandise. (06/nvn/09/ind)