Fires gut buildings but no casualties reported

JAKARTA (JP): Fires ravaged buildings in North, West and South Jakarta yesterday but there were no casualties.

The biggest fire destroyed a shoe factory in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, before people had their predawn meal.

A Penjaringan police subprecinct source said the fire at PT Tri Tunggal Prince Mandiri's shoe factory on Jl. Kapuk Muara, North Jakarta, started at 2:30 a.m.

There were only three security guards in the factory when the fire started. "They were all questioned by police soon after the fire broke out. But they were released after questioning," the source said.

Local residents speculated the fire, which originated from the factory's warehouse, spread quickly because the warehouse was full of flammable materials. An electrical short circuit was blamed for the fire.

The North Jakarta Fire Brigade deployed seven fire trucks and took two hours to extinguish the fire.

Unofficial estimations put the damage at Rp 250 million (US$105,000).

At about the same time yesterday, another fire gutted the car showroom of PT Wahana Wirawan on Jl. Kunir, West Jakarta, destroying at least 13 cars.

Taman Sari Police Chief Maj. Arief Darmawan said the fire, which started at 4 a.m., was probably caused by a short circuit in the showroom's workshop.

"The losses have yet to be calculated," Arief said.

He said the fire also destroyed a bank's automatic teller machine next to the showroom.

Arief said police were questioning two security guards from the showroom and the bank.

Firefighters put out the fire in three hours.

Also yesterday a fire gutted a house on Jl. Jelambar, West Jakarta. Police said an electrical short circuit caused the fire.

The last fire occurred in Cipete, South Jakarta, destroying several cars and a workshop.

A South Jakarta police precinct officer said he believed a Kijang van exploding in the workshop caused the fire.

"We are still investigating the cause of the explosion. The losses have yet to be calculated," he said.

A witness said he heard a loud explosion when he was sitting in front of his house after his predawn meal.

Yesterday's fires bring to 32 the number of fires in Jakarta this year. (jun)