Jakarta's houses are deathtraps: Fireman
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Following three fatal fires in the last two months, claiming a total of 14 occupants' lives, Jakarta Fire Department chief Johnny Pangaribuan warned citizens that most houses in the city were deathtraps, as many failed to meet the fire safety regulations set by the city.
"Many house owners fail to abide by the city regulation No. 3/1992 on fire prevention," he said.
The regulation stipulates that all buildings, including houses, must have emergency exits. It also stipulates that doors nominated as emergency exits must open outward, so panicked residents can easily escape by pushing them.
Exits must be made of fireproof material. At all times occupants should ensure that exits are not obstructed.
"They (the exits) are not allowed to be used for purposes other than as an emergency exits," the regulation says.
There are around 700 fires in the city every year. Dense residential areas are the most vulnerable to fire, as fire trucks have no access to such sites due to narrow alleys.
"Short circuits and exploding fuel stoves are the most frequent causes of fire in residential areas," Johnny said.
He also called on house owners to provide portable fire extinguishers.
The fire early last Friday at the Bumi Harapan Permai housing complex in Kramatjati, East Jakarta, killed Darmawan Supratisto, his wife, two children and two housemaids.
As the windows of the house had iron security bars over them, the occupants were trapped inside.
Most Jakartans have iron bars on their windows to deter burglars.
Rudy, 32, an employee with a printing workshop on Jl. Otista Raya, East Jakarta, said that his house shares walls with his neighbors on the right and left sides. The windows are also fitted with iron bars.
"If there's a fire at my house, we'll be surely be trapped. Moreover, we don't have a portable fire extinguisher," said the father of two.
The fire department had warned that more fires would occur in the city this year. Up until the end of June 2003, a total of 566 fires had already broken out, compared to a total of 837 fires for 2002.
The latest data shows that for a city of 65,000 hectares -- with 53 of 267 subdistricts particularly prone to fire -- Jakarta only has 900 fire hydrants, far from the ideal of 20,000.
Johnny also warned that most fatalities were innocent children.
Two children were killed in a fire at the Attorney General's Office housing complex in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta last month. A toddler miraculously survived the inferno.
In Depok, two children and their mother were killed on Nov. 17, when their house was gutted by fire.
Tips to ensure your home is safe from fire 1. Do not plug too many electrical appliances into a single socket. 2. Do not leave electrical appliances that are switched on unattended, such as irons and hair dryers. Also, do not leave stoves lit or candles burning. 3. Install an automatic short circuit breaker. 4. Do not throw lit cigarettes into garbage cans filled with papers or other inflammable objects. 5. Keep inflammable objects, chemicals and matches out of children's reach. 6. Install a fire extinguisher at home or "traditional" fire extinguishers like buckets, sand and a ladder in places that can easily be reached. 7. If you live on the fourth floor of a building or higher, ensure you have a fire alarm fitted. There should be at least one hydrant for buildings on a plot of more than 1,000-square-meter. 8. Install at least one hydrant or water reservoir in your neighborhood unit. 9. Ensure that fire engines can easily reach your home in the event of a fire.
From various sources