Lighted candle sparks off Jelambar fire

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A burning candle started a fire that eventually destroyed 20 homes belonging to flood victims in Jelambar Baru, West Jakarta, early on Thursday.

The neighborhood chief Mamat, whose house was among those destroyed, told Antara that people had been forced to light candles after state-owned electricity company PLN switched off the power supply to the area due to flooding.

Seven fire trucks and an ambulance deployed to fight the blaze had trouble reaching the site due to the floodwaters that reached a height of nearly 70 centimeters. The fire, which broke out at 3 a.m., was finally extinguished at 4:30 a.m.

"We were helped by the floods as we were able use the water to extinguish the fire," Mamat said, adding that the fire was prevented from spreading further.

No casualties were reported but the residents have yet to make an estimate of their losses.

Another fire damaged the home of Col. Rd. Dibyo on Jl. Pulo Mas Utara II A 06/14 in Kayu Putih, East Jakarta, on Thursday morning.

Because the house's electricity supply had been cut, he lit an oil lamp, which later exploded.

The fire destroyed the ceiling. Two fire trucks failed to reach the site due to the floodwaters inundating the area. The waters reached a height of 1.5 meters.

Santa bakery, belonging to Yuliana Sianipar, located on Jl. Cipaku I/6, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, was gutted by fire on Wednesday night. It was believed the fire was started by a gas canister explosion.