JP/8/car

Father, son escape car fire

BOGOR: A man and his son escaped a fire that engulfed most of their car as they were driving to Ciomas Permai housing complex in Bogor, West Java, on Sunday.

Saiful Bachri, the father from Sukamaju village in Pagelaran subdistrict, and his son quickly jumped out of the sedan when the fire broke out at 11:30 a.m.

"Flames suddenly flared up and I quickly got my son out of the car," Saiful said, adding that the 1985 Renault had just come back from the repair shop.

Local residents and security guards in the housing complex put the fire out by throwing water and sand on the vehicle.

About 20 minutes later, a fire truck sent by the Bogor administration arrived on the scene.

Residents who saw the blaze said the fire was believed to have started in the car's engine.

A fireman said the fire was caused by a short circuit in the engine, but he did not elaborate further.

Local police are handling the case. The fire is expected to cost the vehicle owner more than Rp 10 million in damage. --Antara