House in Koja, North Jakarta, Gutted by Fire; Explosion Heard

A fire broke out on Jalan Mangga, Tugu Utara Village, Koja District, North Jakarta. Residents reported hearing an explosion.

“Based on the occupants’ account, they heard an explosion and upon checking, the fire had already grown large,” said Gatot Sulaeman, Head of Operations for the North Jakarta and Thousand Islands Fire and Rescue Service, as reported by Antara news agency on Tuesday.

Gatot stated that residents called for help from firefighters as the flames grew bigger. Officers received the fire report at 5.38 a.m. Western Indonesia Time and the team immediately went to the location to carry out suppression efforts.

Firefighters began suppression operations at 5.43 a.m. and the fire was successfully extinguished by 6.35 a.m. The Fire and Rescue Service deployed five fire engines with 25 personnel who battled to put out the blaze.

“Alhamdulillah, the fire was successfully extinguished,” said Gatot.

He stated that the object on fire was a residential house that was also used as a business premises for making wooden frames. The fire is suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit.

“The initial suspicion, based on witness statements, is that this fire was triggered by an electrical short circuit,” he said.