Jakarta short of money to buy more fire engines

Jakarta short of money to buy more fire engines

JAKARTA (JP): The city is short of firefighting equipment, but
the administration said on Monday it will not allocate any money
to buy new equipment for the next two years.

Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi said
that the administration would concentrate more on social and
economic problems amid the prolonged economic crisis.

"I think all of us know that we need to concentrate on these
problems at least until the next two years. Maybe we will think
about purchasing firefighting equipment after our economic
condition fully recovers," he told reporters after attending a
ceremony commemorating the city fire departments's 80th
anniversary.

Kahfi said the price of fire engines had jumped substantially,
making it more difficult for the administration to consider.

The city fire department's head, Suharso, said that at present
the cheapest fire engine cost about Rp 400 million.

Suharso repeatedly expressed his concerns about the poor
condition and lack of firefighting equipment.

He said the department had only 106 fire engines at present.
"This is far from ideal as it should be at least 265, meaning
that every subdistrict in the city would have one fire engine,"
Suharso said.

Suharso said the fire department's condition begun
deteriorating long before the economic crisis hit the country in
July 1997.

Besides the 106 fire engines, the department currently has
2,504 personnel, 83 fire posts, 54 support vehicles and 706
hydrants.

Suharso said that several fire engines were under repair,
including the four equipped with ladders.

The administration allocates Rp 11 billion from its budget for
the department's yearly operational costs.

About 60 percent of the total budget is for training courses
and firefighters' welfare, while the remainder covers equipment
purchase and maintenance. (ind)