Jakarta Council Demands Early Fire Detectors in City Buildings
Reported by Fakhrizal Fakhri | Translated by Nugroho Adibrata
Jakarta Council Chairman Suhud Alynudin has called for mandatory early fire detection systems across all capital buildings to boost tenant safety and prevent future disasters.
City must treat this as a top priority
Suhud raised alarms over a troubling wave of recent blazes, including back-to-back fires at the Jakarta Regional Revenue Agency (Bappenda) building on August 7 and August 21, 2026.
"Just tonight, yet another fire broke out involving a low-rise structure near Kebayoran Lama Market," he expressed, Wednesday (9/23).
City Council Backs Special Parking for Online Taxi Drivers in BuildingsHe pointed out that many Jakarta buildings continue to skimp on safety compliance, a situation made worse by missing smoke detectors and lack of fire extinguishers.
"This is happening despite clear mandates under Law No. 28/2002 on Buildings along with its supporting regulations," he emphasized.
Suhud went on to urge city government and the Fire and Rescue Agency to double down on fire prevention, starting with strict enforcement of safety standards across all properties.
"City must treat this as a top priority by aggressively educating the public, private developers, and government site managers on fire safety," he emphasized.
He further cautioned that the ongoing El Niño-driven dry spell elevates fire hazards across the city, noting that dry weather will likely linger through mid-October 2026 and could stretch into January 2027.
"The El Niño threat looming until January 2027 only heightens these risks," he emphasized.
According to data from the Fire and Rescue Agency, 1,216 fire incidents were recorded in Jakarta between January 1 and August 31, 2026. Meanwhile, Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) data logged 457 fires from July to August 2026 alone.