As many as 219 fire cases had happened in eight sub-districts spread in West Jakarta along this year. It means that since January until this month, in average of 20 fire cases happened in a month.

Many people cheated by modifying the electric meter so they could use the electricity arbitrarily, then their houses got burned

From those 219 cases, short circuit becomes the highest cause of fire with 137 cases or 63 percent. While the remaining 82 fire cases were caused by stove (23 cases), cigarette butt (9 cases), lamp (2 cases), trash burning, fireworks, et cetera.

“Many people cheated by modifying the electric meter so they could use the electricity arbitrarily, then their houses got burned,” stated West Jakarta Fire and Disaster Handling Sub-Department Operation Section, Abdul Wahid, Wednesday (11/26).

According to Wahid, shot circuit can also be caused by electronic appliances, such as dispenser, AC, TV, and others.

“Short circuit triggers fire which directly spread to area around it that is dense,” he uttered.

Based on West Jakarta Fire and Disaster Handling Sub-Department data, the sub-district that is most prone to fire is Cengkareng with 36 cases, and then followed by Kembangan, Tambora, and Kalideres with 33 cases each, Grogol Petamburan 30 cases, Kebon Jeruk 25 cases, Palmerah 16 cases, and Tamansari 13 cases.

When beritajakarta.com contacted Head of Cengkareng Sub-District, Ali Maulana Hakim, he admitted that his ranks have routinely conducted socialization on electricity problems that trigger fire.

“We also hold fire extinguishing training by involving West Jakarta Fire and Disaster Handling Sub-Department,” he told.