From Kapuk to Pulo Gebang: These 5 Areas in Jakarta Are Prone to Fires

Entering the transitional season, the DKI Jakarta Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) has identified five sub-districts with the highest potential for fires. These areas are assessed to have similar characteristics, ranging from dense settlements, non-standard electrical installations, to limited access for firefighting. Based on BPBD data over the past five years, three fire-prone spots are located in West Jakarta, namely Kapuk, Cengkareng Timur, and Pegadungan. In addition, vulnerable areas are also found in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, and Pulo Gebang, East Jakarta. BPBD records that these five areas have similar characteristics that contribute to the high incidence of fires. Those factors include electrical issues, dense settlements with easily flammable materials, home-based industrial activities, as well as human errors such as waste burning and negligence in using stoves. According to Yohan, most fires in Jakarta are caused by electrical problems. The use of electronic devices exceeding the building’s power capacity and non-SNI standard cables often trigger short circuits that lead to fires. Kapuk, Cengkareng Timur, and Penjaringan are also areas with high population density that are prone to fires. The condition becomes even more risky when house buildings are semi-permanent and use easily flammable materials such as plywood or wood, so the fire spreads quickly. “The lack of distance between buildings makes fire spread or fire propagation difficult to control,” added Yohan. For initial handling, the community also often has difficulty reaching water sources near the fire location. “Many points in those sub-districts are difficult for large pump trucks to access, so initial handling is often delayed,” said Yohan.