Short Circuit, Main Cause of Fires in City

Jakarta Vice Governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama underlined that the major cause of fires in the capital city is the indiscipline of electricity use.

The electricity installation is set up disorderly, many of the residents set it up in undisciplined way

According to Basuki, the residents do not obey the safe standard on electricity installation that may cause short circuit.

“The electricity installation is set up disorderly, many of the residents set it up in undisciplined way. As proven, on the average, the cause is short circuit,” said Basuki at the City Hall (4/28).

Temporary Shelter Prepared to Pasar Senen Peddlers Soon

According to Fire Department and Disaster Management data, there had been thousands of fire cases in the city in one year. Almost 70 percent of them were caused by short circuit.

To overcome this problem, Basuki admitted that the city administration has sent a letter to National Electricity Company (PLN) to examine electricity use in illegal settlements.

“A number of traditional market buildings should be examined too,” he uttered.

Previously reported, thousands stalls at Senen Market Block III burned down on Friday (4/25) dawn. Thousands of stalls have to suffer a loss due to their burned out commodity.

It is assumed that the short circuit is the main cause of this incident. To ensure the exact cause of the fire, Police Headquarters Central Forensic Laboratory (Puslabfor) was deployed to investigate the scene.

Few days later, the fire also engulfed a kiosk at Rumput Market, South Jakarta, Monday (4/28) morning.