W

ith the hot season lingering the Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency is on alert to deal with possible fire outbreaks across the city.

An average of 150 fire incidents are recorded per month during the dry season, which is expected to last for another few weeks.

The agency had dealt with a total of 1,119 fires as of Sept. 17 this year, with 297 incidents in East Jakarta, 286 in South Jakarta, 253 in West Jakarta, 200 in North Jakarta and 163 in Central Jakarta. The fires have caused damage estimated at a total of Rp 155 billion (US$10.42 million) and, more significantly, 15 fatalities.

Spokesman for the Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency Saepuloh said around half of the fires occurred inside a building, either residential, office, or industrial, while the other half occurred outdoors.

“This is interesting because it means that the weather is so hot that it triggers auto-ignition of things like garbage, power lines and dry vegetation,” he said.

The finding is unique because fires normally start inside a building, caused by either electrical problems such as short circuits and exposed wires, or by malfunctioning gas canisters. In the dry season, the problem is exacerbated because hot weather makes many materials exceptionally flammable.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicted earlier this year that the dry season would hit Jakarta in May, escalate in August, peak in September, then subside into early November, bringing in the monsoon season.

Fire agency data coincides with the BMKG figures showing a significant increase in fires in the dry season. There was an average of 108 incidents a month from January until April, which increased to an average of 165 cases per month between May and August. The highest recorded number of fires was in August with 189 incidents.

Data from the Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), albeit not using the same standards as the fire department, also reflected a significant increase in fires from around 20 cases per month in the monsoon to 30 cases per month in the dry season.

“We just ask that residents be careful about fire hazards; be wary of improper electric wiring, especially those who live in densely populated ares,” BPBD head Jupan Royter told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

However, the fire department also reported rising awareness among residents about fire handling, with active involvement of residents in putting out fires before firefighters arrive on the scene. The department recorded that 10 percent of 107 fires that occurred this month were tackled by residents.

Saepuloh said that this year his agency continued its fire-drilling programs in over 350 community units (RWs) and repeatedly conducted door-to-door inspections of gas and electricity connections throughout the capital city.

“We’re just about to announce it, but we will also be adding 553 more outsourced firefighters to our manpower in addition to the 1,200 outsourced firefighters we already employ,” he said.

The Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency currently has 2,500 full-time staff, of whom some 170 are on standby 24 hours a day in each of the city’s five municipalities.

“My advice is whenever there is a fire, don’t immediately flee [from the scene] but call the fire department on the 112 emergency line, and try to put out the fire because it will help a lot to minimize damage,” he said. (nor)