Kitchen bus for fire victims

Kitchen bus for fire victims

JAKARTA (JP): A new kitchen-equipped bus launched by the
Central Jakarta Fire Department has helped residents whose houses
have been gutted in a series of fires throughout the city.

The Mercedes-Benz bus operated for the first time in Tanah
Tinggi, Central Jakarta, when a fire gutted 217 houses on July 1.

The bus, which was purchased by the City Administration in
February last year, has helped firefighters prepare food for fire
victims.

Central Jakarta Fire Department Chief Freddy Aling said that
besides giving meals to fire victims, the bus, which cost Rp 300
million (US$125,000), also prepares food for firefighters
whenever a fire lasts a long time.

"Firefighters need logistic support prepared in the bus to
enable them to work more effectively," Freddy said.

He said in the Tanah Tinggi fire, which started at about 6:30
p.m., the firefighters worked until the early morning hours, even
though they extinguished the fire at 10:30 p.m.

Out of 27 fire engines deployed at the fire site, some stayed
longer to prevent the fire from reigniting, he said.

The kitchen bus arrived at the fire scene at about 4:30 a.m.
from Central Jakarta Fire Department headquarters on Jl. Zainul
Arifin.

Eight bus crew members immediately started preparing food
supplied by the City Social Services Office and the Indonesian
Red Cross, which also set up a communal kitchen for fire victims
at the time.

Freddy said 50 kilograms of rice can be cooked on the bus in
about 50 minutes.

There is also a pot which can boil 200 eggs simultaneously.
Three 50-kilogram gas cylinders are on the bus as well.

The bus is also equipped with a water pump and a 1000-liter
water tank to supply water for cooking needs.

Two 80-liter water dispensers are also on the diesel-fueled
bus.

Three small refrigerators on the left side of the bus are used
to keep food and vegetables fresh.

Kitchen equipment runs on electricity supplied by a 10 KVA-
portable generator. (jun)