House and LPG Depot Destroyed in Cirebon Fire, Owner Suffers Burns

A house doubling as a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) depot in Cirebon Regency was completely destroyed by fire. The incident occurred in Blok Karang Anyar, Cipeujeuh Wetan Village, Lemahabang District, in the early hours of Tuesday (23/6).

According to Eno Sujana, Head of the Firefighting and Rescue Division at the Cirebon Regency Fire Department, the fire started when the homeowner, Taryudi, smelled a strong gas odour. He was investigating the source of the smell in the middle room, where approximately 30 LPG canisters were stored, when a sudden burst of flames struck his face and both hands.

Despite his injuries, Taryudi managed to wake his child and rushed to a nearby community health centre (Puskesmas) for medical treatment. Upon returning from the health centre, he found his home engulfed in a massive fire. The fire department received the report from Taryudi at around 1:00 a.m. local time.

Due to the intensity of the blaze, firefighters from the Lemahabang Sector first coordinated with the state electricity company (PLN) to cut off the power supply to ensure the safety of the firefighting operation. Additional fire engines from the Cikulak and Pangenan sectors were also deployed to assist. The fire was eventually extinguished, and the area was declared completely safe by 3:30 a.m.

The fire razed 141 square metres of the 150-square-metre building. In addition to the physical injuries suffered by the owner, the material losses are estimated at Rp250 million, including destroyed electronics, furniture, a bicycle, important documents, and gold jewellery.