Witness says BPK member victim of Simatupang fire shouted for help

Jakarta (ANTARA) - A witness stated that Haerul Saleh, Member IV of the Financial Audit Board (BPK) of the Republic of Indonesia, who became a fatality, shouted during the fire at his residence on Jalan TB Simatupang No 3, RT03/RW02, Tanjung Barat, Jagakarsa, South Jakarta. “The gentleman shouted, shouted ‘fire’. We went back up and immediately informed the local residents who called the fire department,” said the witness named Arpen to reporters in Jakarta on Friday. Arpen, who is also the caretaker of the victim’s house, said the burnt area was the office room located on the fourth floor of the building. At that time, the victim was working with a colleague in his office room. “There were indeed people there. The gentleman and his colleague were working on something,” he said. When checking the upper floor, Arpen only then realised the victim was still inside the room. He then claimed not to know the exact cause of the fire. “We went up, and it turned out the gentleman was still inside,” he said. Based on information from the scene, the police will conduct a crime scene examination (TKP) on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman reported that BPK RI Member IV Haerul Saleh passed away following a fire disaster at his house on Friday morning. The South Jakarta Fire and Rescue Sub-Department (Gulkarmat Jaksel) stated that one fatality occurred in the fire on Jalan TB Simatupang No 3, RT03/RW02, Tanjung Barat, Jagakarsa. “The fatality named KS (49) has been handled by officers,” said Head of South Jakarta Gulkarmat Sub-Department Asril Rizal. Asril said the body has now been transported by ambulance to Pasar Minggu General Hospital for further handling. Initially, officers received information from the local RT who saw black smoke billowing from the third floor of the house. “The fire is suspected to have originated from remnants of used paint thinner from house renovations,” he said. The RT then immediately contacted the South Jakarta Gulkarmat officers for assistance. South Jakarta Gulkarmat personnel carried out the extinguishing operation at 08:07 WIB and completed the operation at 08:46 WIB. To date, they are still assessing the extent of losses from the 5x10 square metre area.