Gateways

Gateways

From Neraca

According to statistics, 20 Jakarta residents died between January and August this year from fires. The fire service recorded 482 fires during this period. Many causes of the fires are known, but the majority of them are caused by human error and negligence.

In many cases the fire brigade cannot get to the fire. Many roads in `kampongs' are too small for the fire engine to pass and the fire can therefore easily spread to a larger area.

There is another thing that also hampers the fire brigade. There is a tendency to erect permanent concrete gateways at the entrance to kampongs to mark the celebration of independence day. This is done to avoid having to erect a similar gateway every year. Consequently, if a fire breaks out far from the main road, the concrete gate makes it impossible for the fire brigade to reach the fire.

I would like to call upon the authorities to regulate the erection of permanent gateways.

ADAM RAMEDHAN

Jakarta