Fire razes houses near zoo

BANDUNG, West Java: A fire gutted at least 26 houses and more than a dozen cars and motorcycles on Jl. Kebon Binatang yesterday morning.

The fire is believed to have started from coal sparks at the nearby sate food stall, adjacent to the zoo. The zoo reportedly escaped damage.

Antara quoted several witnesses as saying that Agus Iwan at the time was repairing his motorcycle close to the sate food stall.

Sparks from the sate grill hit the motorcycle which had a leaking gasoline tank.

As small bursts of flames leapt into the air, Iwan, in a state of panic, immediately grabbed a bucket which he believed contained water. He did not realize that the bucket was actually filled with a mixture of oil and gasoline.

As a result, the fire caught on and the gasoline tank exploded in a burst of flames.

Eleven fire engines rushed to the scene. They managed to put out the fire only after it had razed several surrounding buildings.

No casualties were reported in the incident. (mds)