A devastating house fire tragically claimed the life of Haerul Saleh, a prominent member of the Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia (BPK RI), on Friday morning, May 8. The blaze erupted at his residence within the Tanjung Barat Indah Complex in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, sending shockwaves through the community.
The inferno, which tragically unfolded on the fourth floor of the expansive home, became the focus of a harrowing account provided by Harpen, a 36-year-old house guard. Harpen recounted the terrifying moments leading up to and during the fire that ultimately proved fatal for Haerul Saleh.
Harpen described receiving a frantic phone call from Panis, another relative of Haerul. “Panis called, I answered, and there were screams,” Harpen explained when interviewed at the scene. He continued, “Then Alo and Bang Anto [two other relatives of Haerul] ran downstairs shouting ‘fire!'” This immediate alarm signaled the dire situation unfolding within the residence.
Realizing with growing dread that Haerul Saleh was not among those who had managed to descend, Harpen, along with other relatives, sprang into action. Without hesitation, they rushed back upstairs, armed with several light fire extinguishers (APAR), determined to confront the escalating blaze and save Haerul.
As they ascended, Harpen recalled their desperate efforts: “We went up. We tried to put out the fire with those small APARs. We had them, but they weren’t enough.” He further explained that the fourth floor was specifically Haerul Saleh’s workspace or office. Upon reaching this area, a chilling sight greeted them: thick, black smoke billowed ominously from the room.
The density and darkness of the smoke were immediately apparent. “The smoke was black; even from outside the house, they said it was black smoke,” Harpen recounted, highlighting the severity of the airborne hazard.
Despite the overwhelming conditions, Harpen managed to enter Haerul Saleh’s office, whose door stood ajar. Inside, he made the tragic discovery: Haerul Saleh was found unconscious in his room. “Perhaps because of the smoke, Mr. Haerul was already unconscious,” Harpen sadly surmised, pointing to smoke inhalation as the likely cause of his demise.
Haerul Saleh had served as Member IV of the BPK RI since April 2022, holding a significant role in the nation’s audit body. The BPK RI confirmed that his body is currently laid to rest at a funeral home on Jalan Kartika Utama, South Jakarta, with plans for his interment in Kolaka, Southeast Sulawesi.
The official investigation into the tragic incident is underway. According to Asril Rizal, Head of the South Jakarta Fire and Rescue Sub-Department (Kasudin Gulkarmat Jakarta Selatan), the fire is suspected to have originated from residual thinner left over from recent renovation work at the residence. “The suspected cause is believed to be thinner remaining from renovation,” Rizal stated, underscoring the potential hazard of such materials.