Fire razes former police chief's house

JAKARTA (JP): A fire gutted a house belonging to former National Police chief Gen. (ret). Banurusman Astrosemitro on Jl. Blok I in the Bukit Sarua Indah housing complex, Ciputat, South Jakarta Saturday. No fatalities were reported.

A firefighter of the South Jakarta fire department, Yoyok, said yesterday the fire, which started about 9 a.m., caused material losses valued at millions of rupiah.

"The fire was believed to be caused by an electric short circuit in the house," Yoyok said.

A police officer at the South Jakarta police precinct said the house was occupied by Banurusman's relatives, who were away when the fire took place.

According to a maid in the house, the fire started in the kitchen.

The maid shouted for help upon seeing the fire quickly spread to other parts of the house.

The fire department deployed four fire engines and Fire razes former police chief's house extinguished the fire in about two hours. (jun)