Four fires in a week kill two residents in Padang Pariaman

Four fires that occurred in Padang Pariaman, West Sumatra, over the past week killed two people and caused material losses estimated at a minimum of Rp3.6 billion. The Head of the Civil Service Police Unit and Fire Department (Satpol PP and Damkar) of Padang Pariaman, Rifki Monrizal, stated on Saturday that the local government is enhancing preparedness, public education, and cross-agency coordination to anticipate similar incidents. “There were fatalities, two people,” he said. According to Rifki, the four fires affected Pasar Kayu Tanam, the Bustanul Yaqin Islamic Boarding School, a house in Nagari Sungai Buluah Utara, and a motorcycle in Nagari Sintuak. The first fire occurred at Pasar Kayu Tanam, 2x11 Kayu Tanam District, on Wednesday (22/7), destroying 15 kiosks with losses estimated at Rp2.5 billion. Initial information suggests residents heard the sound of a gas cylinder exploding before the fire grew. The following day, Thursday (23/7), a fire struck the Bustanul Yaqin Islamic Boarding School in Nagari Pungguang Kasiak, Lubuak Aluang District, with material losses of around Rp600 million. On Friday (24/7), two more fires occurred, one in Nagari Sungai Buluah Utara, Batang Anai District, and another in Nagari Sintuak, Sintuak Toboh Gadang District. The house fire in Nagari Sungai Buluah Utara killed two occupants and caused losses of approximately Rp500 million, while the fire in Nagari Sintuak destroyed a motorcycle. Rifki said the fires were extinguished by deploying the Padang Pariaman fire fleet, assisted by fire engines from several neighbouring regencies and cities. He urged the public to increase their vigilance against potential fires, while the exact causes of each incident remain under investigation by the authorities.