House, shops catch fire

JAKARTA: Fire razed a two-story house and two shops on Jl. Pademangan IV Raya, North Jakarta, early on Monday, Tempointeraktif.com reported.

No fatalities reported in the incident as the house and the shops were vacant, said North Jakarta fire department officer Jaja Aditya Jaya.

The fire started at about 2 a.m., said a witness, Endah.

At least 15 fire trucks and support vehicles arrived 30 minutes later and managed to put out the fire by about 4 a.m.

Jaja said the provisional assessment was that the fire was caused by a short circuit from the second floor of the house.

"Fortunately, we arrived here in time before the fire spread to other houses in this densely populated area," he added. -- JP