Chronology of the Kemayoran Fire, Starting from One House to Hundreds of Buildings Burned

Kapanlagi.com - A massive fire struck a densely populated area on Jalan Kemayoran Gempol, Kebon Kosong, Central Jakarta, early Tuesday morning, January 21, 2025. The raging fire destroyed more than 500 houses, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes in panic. The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of DKI Jakarta reported that around 1,797 people or 607 families have now been evacuated to emergency posts provided.

This tragic incident has drawn the attention of the public and authorities. As morning approached, firefighters were still working hard to extinguish the flames and cool down the site of the incident. The Head of the Central Jakarta Fire and Rescue Sub-Department, Asril Rizal, revealed that the burned area was a densely populated settlement that had a high risk of similar incidents.

The preliminary suspicion of the cause of the fire is an electrical short circuit in one of the residents' houses, which quickly triggered the fire to spread to neighboring houses. In addition to the material losses incurred, the psychological impact experienced by the affected residents is also a serious concern for the local government.

1. The Fire Started from One House in the Middle of the Night

A major fire broke out in the Kemayoran area in the early morning, specifically around 01:20 WIB, allegedly originating from a house on Jalan Kemayoran Gempol. In an instant, the raging flames spread to nearby houses, considering the location is a densely populated area.

"As many as 11 RTs were affected by this fire," said Mohamad Yohan, Head of the Data and Information Center of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of DKI Jakarta, on Tuesday (21/1/2025), as reported by ANTARA.

The fire department team was quickly deployed with 34 fire trucks and 170 personnel who fought for more than five hours to contain the fire, which was successfully achieved around 05:29 WIB. Although the fire was brought under control, cooling efforts continued until the morning, while the BPBD was still assessing the exact number of houses affected by this disaster.

2. Number of Refugees and Emergency Facilities Provided

The fire that swept through the area forced more than 1,700 residents to leave their homes for safety, and two emergency posts were quickly established at Musholla Al-Hasanah and Masjid Baiturrahman to accommodate the refugees. There, they received food, drinks, and various other urgent necessities.

Although there have been no reports of casualties or injuries so far, the emotional impact and material losses felt by the residents are significant. Therefore, the BPBD has collaborated with relevant parties to ensure that the refugees receive the psychological and medical support they need.

3. Material Losses Still Being Assessed

In a tragic event, a massive fire has destroyed 543 houses, with material losses estimated to exceed Rp6.3 billion. The Head of the Central Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency, Asril Rizal, stated that this figure is still provisional as the assessment process is ongoing.

Authorities suspect that an electrical short circuit or malfunction may have caused the disaster, reiterating the importance of conducting regular inspections of electrical installations, especially in densely populated areas.

4. Challenges of Handling in Densely Populated Areas

Densely populated areas like Kemayoran face serious threats in terms of fire spread, where the close distance between buildings is like igniting fire in a pile of straw. In this critical situation, fire trucks are often hindered by narrow roads, forcing officers to struggle harder to prevent the fire from spreading to other areas.

Amidst the panic, the evacuation of residents becomes the main focus, especially to protect children and the elderly, to ensure the safety of every soul amidst the threatening flames.

5. What caused the fire in Kemayoran?

The fire that shocked the residents is believed to have originated from an electrical short circuit in one of the houses, triggering panic in the surrounding area.

6. How many houses were affected by the fire in Kemayoran?

In a tragic event that shook the Jalan Kemayoran Gempol area, a total of 543 houses were consumed by fire, leaving debris and sorrow in 11 affected RTs.

7. What is the condition of the refugees after the fire?

Currently, the refugees are receiving shelter at two emergency posts provided by the government, namely at Musholla Al-Hasanah and Masjid Baiturrahman.

8. What preventive measures can be taken to avoid fires in densely populated areas?

A crucial step that must be taken is to ensure that our electrical installations comply with applicable safety standards and undergo regular inspections.

(kpl/srr)