Rp 40b goes up in smoke

Rp 40b goes up in smoke

JAKARTA (JP): The city has recorded 198 cases of fire causing
an estimated Rp 40.8 billion (US$5 million) in material losses
over the less than four months of this year, according to an
official.

Johnny Pangaribuan, of the city's fire department, said
Wednesday that three people had been killed and nine others
injured, while 104 houses, 40 public buildings, 21 industrial
structures and 15 vehicles had been destroyed.

Pangaribuan, who chairs the department's section overseeing
public participation in fire prevention efforts, said West
Jakarta topped the list with 48 cases of fire. South Jakarta had
45 cases, North Jakarta 40, East Jakarta 35 and Central Jakarta
30.

Electrical short circuits and stove explosions were the
reasons behind most cases, starting 110 fires and 22 fires
respectively, according to Pangaribuan.

Discarded lit cigarette butts had caused 17 fires, he said as
reported by Antara. (pan)