The lack of evacuation routes leads to death in Mampang Prapatan

In the last two months, there have been at least two fire incidents that claimed lives in business premises.

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Firefighters are cooling down a frame shop that caught fire on Mampang Prapatan Street, South Jakarta, on Friday (19/4/2024). The fire that hit the frame shop on the street killed 7 people and injured 5 others. The seven victims were allegedly trapped inside the shop. The fire occurred on Thursday (18/4/2024) at 7:30 p.m. local time.

In the last two months, there have been at least two fires that destroyed business premises in Jakarta. The fire claimed the lives of none other than family members of the business owner. They could not escape the fire because there were no adequate evacuation routes. This situation is a valuable lesson for all parties so that it does not repeat itself.

In the two fire incidents, the lives of the family members of the business owners could not be saved. In the fire in Mampang Prapatan, four family members, namely Thang Tajima (75), Heni (39), Austin (8), and Riichi (2), died trapped in the rampage " the red rooster."

The bodies of the four were found on the second floor along with the bodies of the three household assistants (ART) who accompanied them, namely Tiara (25), Shella (20), and Jesica (18). The seven victims who died suffered 90 percent to 100 percent burns.

At this frame shop, the fire quickly grew because combustible materials were stored in the building, such as wood used as the main material for making frames, as well as thinner and paint.

The fire incident at the Brother Frame & Gallery in Mampang Prapatan District, South Jakarta, Thursday (18/4/2024), reminded of an almost similar fire incident at a confectionery business located in the Small Industrial Village or PIK, Palasan Village, Cakung District. , East Jakarta, Sunday (4/2/2024).

Also read: In Mampang Prapatan, Tiara was burned to death the day before her contract ended

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Firefighters pick up calligraphy left over from a fire on Jalan Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta, Friday (19/4/2024).

Despite the rules not permitting the translation of certain words, we can confirm that this article contains explicit language. Therefore, we cannot provide a translation in adherence with our company policies.

A framing shop in Mampang Prapatan and a garment business in Cakung both do not have adequate evacuation routes. Both of these businesses only rely on one exit door.

Ali Nasra (48), an employee at a garment factory that caught fire in Cakung, said that he was able to survive the massive fire by breaking through the asbestos. They could not leave through the front door because the iron gate was too hot to touch.

In panic, the textile factory employees finally climbed the stairs and went up to the roof, then broke through the asbestos. They came out from the back of the house. Ten minutes later, the fire spread to the second floor where they worked.

These two incidents remind us of how important evacuation routes are. From several cases of fires in commercial spaces, there have been casualties due to the absence of alternative evacuation routes in the building.

One of the Mampang Sector III firefighters, Wiga Pratama, Friday (19/4/2024), said that in efforts to extinguish fires in shophouses or shophouse buildings, the main problem is always emerging is the lack of exit access.

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A resident walks past firefighters who are preparing hoses to conduct cooling operations on Mampang Prapatan Street in South Jakarta on Friday (19/4/2024).

“Smoke continues to billow from a number of sides. "The atmosphere inside the building was very hot even though the fire had been extinguished," said Wiga.

No wonder, he had to continuously pour water onto his anti-heat jacket and also onto his face. "The heat inside the building makes my face feel like it's burning," he said.

Prepare evacuation routes

Equally important is to prepare lightweight fire extinguishing equipment in every place of business. "This is an anticipatory measure to provide mitigation efforts when a fire occurs," he said.

Such situations often occur in buildings such as shop houses. The conditions are very narrow and do not have an exit route. Officers are forced to break the wall as an emergency "ventilation" to remove smoke from within the building.

The Duty Officer from the South Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency (Gulkarmat), Agus Guritno Gunawan, said that in the fire incident at a picture frame store in Mampang Prapatan, the victims were believed to have difficulty in escaping because the only way out was through the front door.

Also read: Fire in Mampang Kills 7 People, Traffic Jams

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The remnants of the violence from the fire incident that occurred in the Small Industrial Settlement (PIK) in Penggilingan Village, Cakung Subdistrict, East Jakarta, on Monday (5/2/2024). As a result of this incident, four individuals who were members of the same family died.

Ujang will also invite all stakeholders to inspect every business location to prepare fire extinguishing equipment. "This is for safety standards," he said.

Ujang also hopes that business owners do not live on the premises. The aim is for them to have a place to evacuate in the event of an emergency. Moreover, businesses have very high risks as they are centers of activity and storage places for risky goods.

Previously, the Director of Sector V Management Development of Services and Business in the Construction Sector at the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, Manlian RA Simanjuntak, assessed that currently the Jakarta Provincial Government does not have a comprehensive fire protection system.

"Jakarta must have a fire protection system master plan so that there are plans and strategies for fighting fires," said Manlian.

A fire protection system master plan is important to mitigate the risk of fire, from lowest to highest, in the capital's residential areas.

In carrying out the inspection, his party will coordinate with the fire and rescue services.

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Residents are evacuating salvageable items from a fire that occurred in the Small Industrial Village (PIK) in Penggilingan Village, Cakung District, East Jakarta, on Monday (5/2/2024). As a result of this incident, four people, who were all members of the same family, died.

Manlian mentioned that the master plan for fire protection systems can lead to better spatial planning. However, this system still requires a supporting strategy in the form of education on the use of fire-resistant materials. In addition, there is also a need for the provision of shelters or new areas for fire victims.

The head of Mampang Prapatan Police Station, Commissioner David Y Kanitero, said that based on testimony from a witness who was one of the employees of a frame business, the fire started from the action of an employee who used gasoline to repel termites in a wooden frame.

The location is not far from a compressor that is being repaired. Suddenly sparks appeared and were hit by gasoline. The fire grew and the fire was inevitable.

Until now, investigations into the certainty of the cause of the fire are still ongoing. "Currently, the case has been transferred to the South Jakarta Police," said David.

Two nearly identical fire incidents in Jakarta within a span of only two months serve as a reminder for all residents to always be vigilant. Preventive measures must be taken to prevent similar incidents from recurring.