N. Jakarta fire leaves thousands homeless

JAKARTA (JP): A fire razed more than 200 houses in a densely populated area in Pademangan district, North Jakarta, yesterday, leaving thousands of people homeless.

No fatalities were reported. Material losses are expected to run into hundreds of millions of rupiah.

Eyewitnesses said the fire started at 12:20 p.m. in one house and rapidly spread to other buildings in the three neighborhoods of Pademangan Barat subdistrict on Jl. Budi Mulia.

The strong, dry, wind enabled the flames to speed through the houses, most of which were two-story half-wooden buildings located close to each other.

The head of North Jakarta Fire Department, A. Bachri, who attended the scene, told reporters that the cause of the fire was still under investigation.

Husni, a resident, said that the fire allegedly began in a 12- room boardinghouse owned by a man named Maman.

"I was taking a nap when the fire started. When I woke up, I saw the flames burning Maman's house first," said Husni.

He believed that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit.

At least 22 fire crews were deployed to extinguish the fire.

Officer Bachri said the firefighters were hindered by the narrow access roads to the scene and the scarcity of water.

The other serious problem, he said, was the crowd of residents trying to extinguish the fire and save their property.

It took four hours to extinguish the blaze.

Hundreds of residents put their salvaged belongings on the side of Jl. Ampera. Some housewives cried as they watched the flames consume their houses.

The fire caused heavy traffic congestion on nearby streets, including Jl. Gunung Sahari. (jun)