A devastating fire tore through a densely populated residential area in Gang 2, Jalan Krendang Barat, Tambora, West Jakarta, on Thursday evening (May 28). Preliminary reports suggest the blaze was ignited by a short circuit in a ceiling fan within a rented home.
Agus (48), a local resident who lives adjacent to the origin point of the fire, provided a harrowing account of the incident. He recalled first noticing smoke billowing from a neighbor’s house at approximately 7:30 PM, shortly after the Maghrib prayer. The alarm was raised when a neighbor’s child noticed the smoke spreading across the rooftop.
“It was around 7:30 PM, just after Isya,” Agus recounted while at the scene. “Initially, it looked like light smoke, similar to the scent of a cigarette, before a child started shouting.”
The situation escalated rapidly. What began as thin smoke quickly turned into visible sparks erupting from the ceiling fan. Because the structure was built predominantly with wood, the flames spread with alarming speed throughout the property. Agus noted that the occupants of the rented house were not at home when the incident occurred.
“The fan was hanging from the ceiling. It likely overheated and short-circuited,” Agus explained. “The fire caught onto the wooden structures, and within moments, it was completely out of control.”
As the fire intensified, Agus acted immediately to ensure the safety of his family. He successfully evacuated his mother-in-law and three children, managing only to grab essential documents and his mobile phone before fleeing. “We focused on saving our important papers—our family cards and marriage certificates—along with our phones, which were vital for communication,” he added.
Emergency services responded with urgency, deploying 21 fire engines and 105 personnel in two stages to combat the blaze. The fire was successfully brought under control by 8:56 PM, followed by cooling operations that commenced at 9:17 PM. Authorities have confirmed that there were no fatalities resulting from the incident.
Tambora Police Chief, AKP Wahyu Hidayat, confirmed the safety of the residents while detailing the significant impact on the community. According to preliminary data, 33 houses were destroyed or damaged, leaving approximately 115 families displaced and in need of emergency shelter.
Summary
A major fire broke out in a densely populated residential area in Tambora, West Jakarta, on the evening of May 28. Preliminary investigations indicate that the blaze was triggered by an electrical short circuit in a ceiling fan within a vacant rented house, which quickly spread due to the wooden structure of the buildings.
Emergency responders deployed 21 fire engines to control the flames, successfully extinguishing the fire by 8:56 PM with no reported fatalities. The incident caused significant destruction, impacting 33 houses and leaving approximately 115 families displaced and in need of emergency assistance.