Towering Infernos?

From Kompas

High-rise condominiums are sprouting up in Jakarta to meet the housing needs of the middle and upper classes.

But has there been adequate protection provided against fire in these multi-storied (25 to 30 stories), skyscraper apartments?

Condominiums are especially prone to fire. Household activities go on around the clock in these buildings, including cooking and cigarette smoking with its latent threat of thrown, still smoldering butts.

There is also the ever-present danger of short-circuits in the buildings' extensive wiring systems.

Judging from past fires in tall buildings throughout the city, I doubt if the Jakarta fire brigades have the capacity to deal with a full-blown conflagration in the condominiums that we now see.

For that reason, each of the condos should have their own fire engines that can meet the special needs of the apartments -- specifically, ones that have extra-long ladders and high-powered hoses.

A helicopter pad should also be built at the top of each building to facilitate the evacuation of residents during fire emergencies.

Hand extinguishers too should be made available to the residents.

W.S. TRISNO

Tangerang, W. Java