Slums top list as areas most prone to fire

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The city administration announced on Friday 53 fire-prone locations, mostly the slum areas throughout the city's five mayoralties.

City Fire Agency Chief Johnny Pangaribuan said houses and buildings in those areas were made from materials which were very flammable, such as wood and cardboard.

"The areas also lack fire safety facilities and water resources," he told reporters after a fire extinguishing exercise at the National Monument (Monas) Park.

He added that firemen often found it difficult to reach the sites, which were densely populated with little access to the areas because the small lanes were too narrow for the fire engines to enter.

He said there were eight fire-prone areas in Central Jakarta: Tanah Tinggi, Karang Anyar, Galur, Kebon Melati, Jiung, Jati Bunder, Kebon Kosong and Kramat Sentiong.

In West Jakarta, the 11 fire-prone areas are Kampung Krendang, Kapuk, Kota Bambu Utara, Kota Bambu Selatan, Palmerah Barat, Kali Anyar, Tangki, Jelambar Jaya, Cengkareng, Semanan and Kali Deres.

The 11 fire-prone areas in East Jakarta are Jatinegara Kaum, Kayu Manis, Lubang Buaya, Halim, Kampung Makasar, Kramat Jati, Susukan, Ciracas, Kampung Tengah, Gedong and Kebon Pala.

In North Jakarta, there are 10 prone-fire areas: Penjaringan, Pademangan Barat, Kamal Muara, Cilincing, Kebon Bawang, Kali Baru, Muara Baru Ujung, Sukapura, Warakas and Koja Utara.

Manggarai, Manggarai Selatan, Pejaten Timur, Mampang Prapatan, Cipete Utara, Gandaria Utara, Kebayoran Lama Utara, Petukangan Utara, Petukangan Selatan, Grogol Utara, Karet Belakang, Pancoran Selatan and Bukit Duri Selatan are the fire-prone areas in South Jakarta.

Johnny said the administration had installed 25 portable pumps in the fire-prone areas throughout the city, but they could not be operated fully due to a lack of water resources.

From January to June this year, there were 336 serious fires in 183 of the 361 subdistricts of the city. Most of the fires, 93, occurred at night.

As many as 18 fires took place in the Penjaringan area of North Jakarta, 18 more in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta and 15 blazes occurred in Cakung, East Jakarta.