Small fire in Pasaraya

JAKARTA (JP): A small fire occurred at the Pasaraya shopping center in Blok M yesterday, prompting many customers to run out of the building in panic.

Pasaraya's general manager of promotions, Rae Sita Supit, said the fire was caused by the burning of the polyurethane layer on part of the sixth floor's roof.

"The layer functions as the shield and sound absorber. It has become very parched during this dry season and finally burnt without our consent," Rae said.

She said that the fire burned 35 square meters, or almost half of the whole roof of the sixth floor. Pasaraya officials put it out in ten minutes with fire extinguishers.

The thick black smoke and the presence of six fire engines and four ambulances, however, caused passersby to think that a big fire had taken place, only twelve days after the last such incident, Rae said.

"The financial losses, I think, will not be that big. The (damaged layer of the) roof just needs replacing," she said.

Another fire gutted the Arema Makmur mini market on Jl. Raya Bekasi, West Java, yesterday and caused estimated losses of around Rp 500 million (US$171,000).

Six fire engines were deployed to put out the fire which started at around 3:30 a.m. and lasted for almost three hours. No casualties were reported.

The police are still investigating the cause of the fire which has gutted the 300-square-meter store. (cst)